How can a six-week program transform a student's career path, and what role does mentorship play in preparing them for the future? In this two-part blog series, we delve into these questions from both sides of a Career | Fit Professional Experience Program (Career | Fit PEP), generously supported by RBC FutureLaunch.
In the first part of this series, we explored the journey of Gina Quan, a participant in the Career | Fit program, who shared her personal growth and professional development through hands-on experience and mentorship.
Now, in this second part, we focus on Kiki Oyerinde, Associate Director at RBC, a Schulich alumna, and a mentor in the program. Kiki shares insights into the transformative impact of targeted mentorship—not only on the youth, who gain skills and confidence for the evolving job market, but also on herself as a mentor, reflecting on the reciprocal benefits of the mentorship experience.
Mentor Kiki Oyerinde’s Perspective on Mentorship and Impact
Kiki joined Career | Fit PEP with the desire to support young people in their professional journeys. As an immigrant herself, Kiki felt a personal connection to the students she mentored—many of whom are navigating the complexities of Canadian culture for the first time. “I hoped that they would see representation in me and that I could help them develop the confidence they needed to succeed in their chosen careers,” Kiki shares. She also viewed it as a meaningful opportunity to give back to the community and encourage young talent in the financial services sector.
One of the key features of Kiki’s mentoring approach was cultivating personal relationships with the participants. “Having been where some of them are myself, navigating an unfamiliar culture with little or no network, I focused on identifying their strengths and challenges,” Kiki says. She emphasized not only technical skills but also personal development, such as resume building, interview preparation, and networking—all crucial skills for adapting to the job market. Small class sizes allowed Kiki to provide customized guidance and individual attention.
Kiki believes that Career | Fit PEP stands out compared to other initiatives due to its practical focus. Students work on real-world business cases, sharpening their critical thinking and synthesizing actionable solutions—a departure from traditional classroom learning. “It provides them with a platform to leverage their first touch point with the business world,” Kiki explains. This exposure to current issues and real-world scenarios equips participants with unique industry insights, preparing them for the workforce with practical skills beyond theory.
Mentorship has been a two-way street for Kiki. Her involvement in the program has helped her grow as a professional, enhancing her active listening skills and expanding her knowledge base through course preparation. “I’ve developed relationships with some students who continue to reverse mentor me,” Kiki shares, highlighting the mutually beneficial nature of the experience.
One challenge Kiki encountered involved working with a team that struggled with collaboration. The program’s limited time frame made it difficult for one student, who was used to working independently, to fully adapt to team dynamics. However, through one-on-one sessions, Kiki helped the student identify a career trajectory that suited their preference for independent work, turning the challenge into a valuable learning experience about self-awareness and career alignment.
For Kiki, the most rewarding aspect of mentoring was witnessing the participants’ growth. “I have seen them blossom, display intellectual curiosity, build confidence, and achieve their career goals,” she says.
For Kiki, the most rewarding aspect of mentoring was witnessing the participants’ growth. “I have seen them blossom, display intellectual curiosity, build confidence, and achieve their career goals,” she says. Watching students find the courage to switch majors, secure internships, or start their first jobs was a testament to the program’s effectiveness as an incubator for career development.
Kiki encourages future mentors to be passionate and committed, noting that mentorship goes far beyond classroom hours. “Double the hours are spent behind the scenes, preparing course material, conducting research, and upskilling oneself,” she says. By creating an interactive and up-to-date learning environment, mentors can help students gain more than just technical skills—they leave the program with insights, confidence, and a clearer vision for their future.
Through Kiki's experience, we see how the Career | Fit PEP, supported by RBC FutureLaunch, not only empowers students but also offers mentors an opportunity to grow, contribute, and inspire the next generation of professionals. This dual impact is what makes Career | Fit truly transformative, ensuring that both students and mentors leave the experience better prepared for the challenges of today and tomorrow.