Madleine Rab, President,
ACE Business Development Ltd

Throughout my career, I’ve always had a passion for uncovering and nurturing talent, skills and ambition. I credit my management style, which encourages open communications and creative approaches to business challenges with drawing some remarkable young people into my life.

These professional interactions have led to many formal and informal mentoring opportunities that hopefully helped my mentees make better decisions for themselves, but also enriched me on many levels.

All of my mentees are smart, well educated, focused and driven men and women in the early to mid-stages of their careers. They are open about what they want from the mentoring relationship and quite often they initiate our meetings. They ask me to be their sounding board, to give them my unbiased advice based on experience, to facilitate professional introductions, to provide objective analysis of a risk being considered, or any other guidance that is required at the time.

For my part I truly care for my mentees and want to help them reach their full potential. I do that by leading them to ask themselves the right questions, while avoiding any kind of influence, by creating a supportive and trusting atmosphere where alternative options can be considered and evaluated, and finally, once they have made a decision – by cheering them on and getting updates on their progress.

There is a saying that through mentoring we receive more than what we give. I find this to be quite true, while I enjoy sharing my experience and providing guidance, I also benefit from my mentees’ fresh perspective, limitless energy, fearlessness, impatience, creativity, sense of boundless possibility and from seeing them succeed. Most of my mentoring relationships have evolved into true friendships based on mutual respect, understanding and appreciation and I am glad to have these special people in my life.

I had the pleasure of participating as a Mentor in the Follow the Leader™ program, which led to a highly rewarding, mutually beneficial mentoring relationship and a friendship with an exceptional young lady named Tracy. Contributing to Minerva’s programs is not only a great opportunity to give back, but also a privilege to be involved with one of the most highly regarded organization focused on helping women in Canada.