In honour of Mental Illness Awareness Week 2022, Wavemakers had the privilege of hosting a conversation with student alumni, mentor alumni, post secondary institution partners, and employer partners on how to create work environments that honour, respect, and support mental wellness.

Post-secondary programs give students the educational foundation necessary for their success, but having the opportunity to apply that knowledge through a work-integrated learning program can often help students develop the skills and capabilities that aren’t so easily learned in a classroom setting. But while work-integrated-learning programs are beneficial for students, helping them develop necessary skills and mindsets necessary for success, they haven’t always been accessible to all students.

Adopting an entrepreneurial mindset means adopting habits that can create the conditions for new ideas, opportunities and success. One of the most beneficial habits is also one of the most simple: having conversations.

Our world is changing and so is the way we interact with each other, especially in educational and work environments. The metaverse is enabling new ways of social interaction, with virtual and augmented reality becoming more mainstream.

Becoming a mentor is a rewarding opportunity to deliver real-life experience, learnings and advice to the future leaders of tomorrow. For students and youth from diverse backgrounds, having strong mentors who provide insight, guidance and can act as sounding boards during their educational and professional journeys can often be the difference between success and stagnation.