Meet Myriam and Nicolas, a successful pairing

"I had no specific needs. [...] My expectations were not clearly defined, so I was rather curious to see different perspectives on my field."

Not sure how to make contact with a mentor on Elo? Not sure of your needs or what exactly to ask them?

You are not alone in this situation! Myriam, who is just starting out in philanthropy, was also apprehensive before she made contact with her mentor, the Director of Philanthropic Development at the UQAM Foundation. But once the discussion started, she never looked back.

So we spoke with Myriam Rivière, Philanthropic Development Advisor at Academos, and her mentor Nicolas Dedek, a pairing that only began in January but is already bearing fruit.

How did the first contact go?
Myriam Rivière: "Getting in touch was super easy! I wrote to him introducing myself and telling him that I was interested in his profile and background [...] He immediately replied enthusiastically and asked me how I would like to proceed. Not really knowing myself what I was thinking, I was very open and simply replied that our discussions and exchanges on the platform would certainly be very enriching for me and that it would be interesting to meet up sometime."

How do you play your role as mentor to Myriam?
Nicolas Dedek: "We communicate a lot via the messaging system on the platform, and we work by "challenges". Myriam tells me about the challenges she faces in the short, medium and long term and I give her my observations and recommendations. I also give her information on the background of the business. Things that only experience can reveal. In particular, what are the strengths and qualities you need to have to do the job, but also the pitfalls to avoid, the common links... There is theory and reality. I tell him the reality, what I have seen, met, learned throughout my career."

What has your mentor brought to you so far?
MR: "He helps me to get to the heart of the matter, to ask myself the right questions. I am in a particular professional situation where everything in my job has to be built. [...] Having the vision of someone with a lot of experience, who comes from the community sector just like me, I find it very enriching and I take his observations into account when I test some of my ideas."

What are the benefits to you of an app like Elo for finding a mentor, communicating with your mentor, etc.?
MR: "Elo allows us to communicate with people who are not necessarily in our network. I'm super happy to be able to chat with someone who works in my field, but in a sector far from mine."

What do you yourself get out of your mentoring relationship?
ND: "It's a great and rewarding experience. I'm extremely excited to see that there is a next generation. Don't get me wrong, I'm still in the middle of my career at 43. But from now on, a succession must be prepared and I feel like I am part of it."

What would you say to a user who doesn't dare to contact their first mentor?
MR: "It can seem a bit 'intimidating' at first, especially when you don't have specific questions in mind, but are just interested in interacting and broadening your horizons. These people are there to help and because they want to share their knowledge and experience. It would be sad to do without them!