Cultivating Talent: A Mentorship Collective is a mentorship program focused on supporting the personal and professional growth, and development of employees that identify as Black, Indigenous and/or Racialized. The program is grounded on a collaborative, peer-based mentorship model that focuses on mutual mentorship. This model understands mentorship as the mutual reciprocity of being mentored and mentoring. When peer or near-peer colleagues come together, they create a powerful space to reflect, co-develop, share knowledge, and explore in an atmosphere of trust, collaboration, curiosity and cooperation.
The Cultivating Talent: A Mentorship Collective program is a five-day, in-person, intensive cohort-based experience. In this multi-day development experience, a cohort of employees will begin a journey of self-reflection, community building and personal and professional development. Participants will be given the tools and resources to support their development and will have access to a diverse network of leaders and peers. By the end of the program, participants will develop a personal and professional development plan that will support them as they continue to learn, grow, and develop in their careers at the University of Waterloo.
Read how the fall 2023 offering of this program empowered growth for Waterloo staff.
Spring 2026 offering:
The Cultivating Talent: A Mentorship Collective program is specifically designed for employees who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Racialized. The focus on Black, Indigenous and other Racialized employees is a direct response to PART recommendations 56 and 57 geared towards embedding anti-racism into mentorship and employment advancement opportunities at the University of Waterloo.
Program Dates:
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 – Tuesday, June 2, 2026
The program aims to:
-
Cultivate relationships across the University of Waterloo by promoting life-long learning through personal and professional development.
-
Facilitate opportunities to network with University of Waterloo employees representing all levels of the institution.
-
Support an employee's personal and professional development as they look to enhance and advance in their careers.
-
Develop collaborative, cross-departmental relationships that support employees feeling engaged, curious and a sense of belonging.
Information Sessions
Two information sessions will be held to share program details, feature participant experiences from the pilot, and answer questions:
- The first is held virtually on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. This session will be recorded, and the recording will be made available on the OHD resources website afterwards with your WatIAM credentials.
- The second information session will be held in-person (location - TBD) on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Please register for your preferred information session on Portal.
Application Information
Applications are now open. Please submit your application and, due to the length of the time commitment, your manager's support form by January 31, 2026. Note: Participation in this program does NOT require the participants to use vacation days.
STEP #1 - APPLY
STEP #2 - GET SUPPORT
Contact Us:
Questions about this development opportunity can be directed to: Laura Maple (lcmaple@uwaterloo.ca).