GEM Program Pillars

Mentorship

Participants are screened, and carefully matched based on career experience and aspirations, shared interests, personality and geographic proximity. Mentees and mentors commit to regular meetings and touch points over a nine--month period that runs concurrently with the academic school year. Mentors support mentees in their personal and professional growth and development while helping them navigate key areas including goal setting, time-management, confidence building and stress management. Program participants at the end of the cohort join the Mentor and Alumnae networks to continue their connection with the GEM community. Each year, GEM works with the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work for impact assessments.

"I have had strong mentors who nurtured the best in me. This has made a huge difference in my life that I never would have imagined or realized on my own. Through GEM, I have been able to pay this gift forward - first as a mentor, and now as a member of the mentor committee. It has been a privilege and a joy to support GEM and make a difference in women's lives."

Anne Maggisano, CFA

Vice President, Burgundy Asset Management

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GEMinars

Each cohort, we conduct five GEMinars. These are experiential workshops designed to expose mentees to various industries and corporations to develop professional skills, participate in round table discussions, connect with their peers and mentors, while learning about the job market directly from female leaders from across industries and sectors.

Past GEMinar partners include LinkedIn, Oxford Properties, Deloitte, Google Canada, and Unilever.

GEMenrichments

GEMenrichments are opportunities for mentees to enrich their personal and professional experiences through a range of special events and knowledge sharing workshops. GEMenrichments are curated and hosted by community and corporate partners, and held throughout the cohort year. Past opportunities and have included a job shadow day at RBC, a pitching workshop at Relay Ventures, tickets for lunch with President Obama from PWC, a day at Twitter, among many others.

GEM Scholarships

GEM offers annual scholarships to GEM mentees who have displayed exceptional initiative and need. The scholarships offered have been generously sponsored by our individual and corporate partners and aims to assist mentees in their educational goals and endeavours.

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"The community of like-minded peers and industry leaders in GEM is unparalleled to any other program or event I have ever attended. I genuinely felt the passion and support from every individual, and also felt empowered as a female to take on any challenge I may face and to always reach for the stars."

Gabby, Alumna and Scholarship Recipient, 2019

GEM Internships

GEM works with our partners to facilitate paid summer internships for GEMgirls. GEM’s internship opportunities provide our mentees and Alumnae with an opportunity to gain tangible employment skills and real-life work experience within an office environment. Each year, GEM also hosts over a dozen interns and student placements from universities and colleges. We provide these young women a hands-on working experience of what it’s like to be a professional in a social non-profit organization.

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"Thanks to this program, I have been connected to tangible supports like scholarships and internships to help me afford my post-secondary education. I have built meaningful relationships with incredible women who have helped me in my high school career and what is still to come. Lastly, and most importantly, GEM has helped me realize my potential and for that, I am grateful."

Hiwot, Alumna, Intern & Scholarship Recipient, 2018

GEM Lab

GEM Lab is a Canadian centre for evidence-based mentorship solutions to dismantle barriers and contribute to the academic and professional success of marginalized girls and women. Report topics include effective mentorship practices and understanding the mental health of adolescent girls in Canada.

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GEM gave me a first taste of what ‘owning my future’ feels like – set goals, make plans, seek opportunities and take action.

Shirley

Alumna and Scholarship Recipient, 2019

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