We all remember our first days in a new role – the excitement, the nerves, the questions – all while trying to find our footing. Sometimes the most valuable part of this onboarding isn’t a handbook, or training sessions…it’s having someone who can help guide you along the way.
Wesley recently piloted a new Mentorship Program in Newcomers and Employment Services. The program is an opportunity to pair a mentor with a mentee who shares a similar role to help guide, encourage, and navigate the new workplace. New hires can volunteer to be paired with an experienced staff mentor within their first week, beginning a six-month journey of regular check-ins, learning, and support.
Nimisha Shannon and Leila Haji were selected as the pilot Mentor/Mentee pair.
Nimisha has been working with Wesley for four years now. She started as an Intensive Case Manager in the Client Support Services (CSS) Program and then moved into a Health and Wellness Advisor role. CSS supports Government Assisted Refugees in Hamilton and Brantford, and Nimisha’s role is focused on emotional support. She makes connections to community services, advocates for the newcomer’s mental health needs and is a listening ear when they need to talk about the traumas they have faced.
Nimisha volunteered as a mentor as she felt overwhelmed when she started at Wesley. She said at the time, the team was small and they had a large case load. “There’s a lot more support now. I would have had such a different experience when I started if this had been offered,” she explained.
Leila was excited to join the program as well. She actually started working for Wesley in 2023 as a Settlement Worker with CSS, but when funding for her position ran out, she took a break. When the pilot Asylum Seekers Assistance Program started in Halton this year, she jumped at the opportunity to return to Wesley. “I just love working for Wesley,” she says. “I love how it’s people first, staff first and clients first.”
When she received an invitation to participate in the Mentorship Program, she was happy to volunteer as a mentee. “I don’t want to stop learning and to get that experience from a mentor that knows things that I don’t know, I’ll just increase my knowledge,” she says.
As employees who both work with newcomer populations, Nimisha and Leila see similar challenges among their clients, a lot of which can be heavy. As a mom of two girls, Leila doesn’t want to bring that home.
“Nimisha is a health and wellness worker, and a lot of the things I’m dealing with are people with mental health challenges due to traumatic things they went through. Nimisha talked me through ways to cope and segregate work from home life,” Leila shared.
And this is exactly what the program is about, explained Chief Human Resources Officer Melissa Lodge Rodney. “One of the strongest predictors of success in a new role isn’t just training; it’s connection. Our mentorship program helps new and transitioning employees build relationships, navigate our culture, and gain confidence faster.”
Melissa says Wesley is excited to expand the program across the entire organization as part of the onboarding experience. “Investing in our people from day one strengthens both the employee experience and the quality of service we provide.”
Now that Leila’s completed the program, she says she would definitely recommend it to other colleagues. And although this was an opportunity to support Leila as she transitioned to her new role, Nimisha also took something valuable away from the program. “As I keep growing in my career, taking on more responsibility is something I want to do. This taught me to be a leader and to be an advocate.”
And despite being overwhelmed when she started at Wesley, Nimisha couldn’t be happier than where she is today. “My team, I love them all. I get to be around these powerful women at different parts of their lives and careers,” she says. “I’ve never been on a team this supportive.”
Starting a new role can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory, much like being a newcomer in Canada. But having the right person beside you can make all the difference. As someone who arrived as a refugee in Canada when she was eight years old, Leila feels like she can truly relate to her clients. “I know what these asylum seekers are feeling. Coming to a new country, not knowing the language. I can empathize with them. I can let them know that they’re going to get to the place they want to be in their life.”
