There’s no more powerful ingredient to fuel business success than forging strong industry connections.
That’s a key reason that Accelerate Auto, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing opportunities for Black talent in Canada’s automotive industry, created a formal mentorship program: Accelerate Auto Connect.
The group recently held a kick-off event at its Mississauga offices to launch a pilot mentorship program that connects high-profile industry leaders with the next generation of Black talent entering the auto industry.
This program will link young adults from community partners, college students, and university students with seasoned business experts who will act as their mentors. The mission aims to create career pathways through relationship building and ensure talent retention in the industry.
“We have bright young folks that just need a boost. They need some help,” said Joyce Tshiamala, Accelerate Auto Co-Founder and Team Lead of the Mentorship Committee in her remarks at the event. “Not just help, but if I can take it even further, they need fairness when it comes to representation and to see themselves in leadership positions within the automotive space.”
She added that the automotive sector is not yet truly reflective of the customer base that it serves. “That’s why we started this program.”
The success of any mentorship program largely depends on the quality of the mentors, and Accelerate Auto has assembled an impressive lineup of seasoned professionals from within the industry.
In a media release announcing the program, the group identified some of the mentors, which include Don Romano, President and CEO of Hyundai Canada and Genesis Canada; industry association heads like Jean-Francois Champagne, President of the Aftermarket Industries Association of Canada (AIA); and leading industry suppliers like Yolanda Biswah, President of Canadian Black Book.
Other high profile mentors are John Currado, President of taq Automotive Intelligence; Charles Fordjour, National Sales Manager, Aftermarket, with CARFAX Canada; Roger Linton, with Ten Steps Ahead Inc; Anne Marie Desando, VP of National Sales at Scotiabank Automotive Finance; and from the dealership world, Mike Overholt, Regional Manager at Performance Auto Group.
“I think the opportunity to both learn and impart knowledge really excited me,” said taq Automotive Intelligence’s John Currado, one of the mentors who attended the launch event. “I think there’s lots to learn from the mentees themselves. And then I have experience, and I hope to share that in a way that can be well understood.”
These mentors bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion to the program. “I think the mentorship program is important, especially as leaders in the industry, for us to share our knowledge and ideas about the diverse positions within this industry that everyone belongs in,” said CBB’s Yolanda Biswah at the event. “I hope to help the mentees to (ultimately) find a job. I’m looking forward to that.”
A group of very excited mentees at the launch event said they were excited to get started. “The industry is very big, but I’ve also learned that there are so many layers to it that you don’t recognize from outside. I want to learn about what the niche networks are,” said Kobe Cargill, an Actuarial Science Graduate from York University.
In today’s digital age, technology is pivotal in fostering effective mentorship. That’s why Accelerate Auto partnered with 10 Thousand Coffees (10KC), a leading diversity-founded mentoring and networking platform, to take this program to the next level. According to the media release, 10KC has launched similar programs for clients like Nike, Thomson Reuters, JP Morgan, GE and 200-plus other firms.
This partnership is poised to revolutionize how mentorship is conducted within the automotive industry. “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) relies on mentoring and networking relationships, and we couldn’t be more proud to provide our tried and tested mentoring solution to support Accelerate Auto’s advancement of underrepresented talent,” said Dave Wilkin, CEO of 10KC.com, in remarks at the launch event.
For more information, visit: www.accelerateauto.ca
