Eripmn

EriPMN (Eritrean Professionals Mentoring Network) started because a group of experienced professionals saw a gap: young Eritrean-Canadians and newcomers had talent and ambition but lacked access to mentors who understood the Canadian job market. So they built a free, community-driven platform to bridge that gap.

The model is straightforward. You register as either a mentee or mentor, introduce yourself in the private LinkedIn group, and connect directly with someone who fits your needs. Mentees propose what kind of help they need. Available mentors volunteer to assist. If multiple mentors offer, the mentee picks the best fit.

• •Time commitment: One hour per month for six months. That's six one-hour Zoom meetings covering different topics. Mentors and mentees can schedule more frequently if they want.

• •Cost: Zero. This runs entirely on volunteer time and goodwill.

As a mentee: - High school students - College students - Recent graduates - Anyone new to Canada or the region - Anyone considering a career change or advancement

As a mentor: - Anyone with professional or life experience willing to guide others - No formal qualifications needed—just expertise and willingness to help

"We believe that mentorship is a powerful tool for success, and we are committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for our mentees."

There's no one-size-fits-all agenda. Instead, mentors and mentees work together on topics that matter to the mentee's specific goals:

• •Career development — Goals, aspirations, LinkedIn optimization, job hunting, network building
• •Job search strategies — Resume building, interview prep, networking tactics
• •Industry insights — Market trends, challenges, opportunities in the mentee's field
• •Professional growth — Identifying skill gaps and development paths
• •Workplace dynamics — Communication, teamwork, professional relationships
• •Work-life balance — Managing competing demands

Beyond mentorship, EriPMN maintains a comprehensive digital resource library organized by industry:

The Coordinating Committee includes founding members who handle policy and day-to-day operations on a volunteer basis:

• •Efrem Habteselassie (Chairman) — Former VP of Agile Solutions at RBC; founded ACIS Consulting
• •Hermon Berhe (Vice Chair) — Immigration consultant; 15 years in investment/trading
• •Abiel Tesfit (Treasurer) — 16+ years at CIBC in wealth management, QA, product, Scrum mastery
• •Gideon Ghebreyohannes (Director, Corporate Relations) — Principal at Tarra Engineering; expertise in research and project management
• •Medhanie Tekeste (Director, Fundraising) — CIO at global pharmaceutical company; 11+ years IT transformation
• •Helen Tewolde (Director, Fundraising) — Director of Access Strategy at University of Toronto; former Director of Policy at Law Foundation of Ontario
• •Bisrat Brown (Director, Events) — Director of Business Development at Telus Health; experience at Medavie Blue Cross
• •Bersabel Ogbazghi (Event Coordinator, Marketing) — Marketing graduate from Toronto Metropolitan; led mentorship program launch at TMU Black Business Student Association
• •Haile Ghebrat (Director, Outreach) — Senior Field Medical Officer; 21+ years in insurance
• •Henok Russom (Director, Outreach) — IT expert in data security; LLM candidate in Privacy & Cybersecurity Law; MBA and PMP certified

At the end of six months, mentees complete a feedback survey about their experience. Mentors share progress updates throughout. The network hosts an annual awards ceremony to celebrate achievements and recognize contributions.

Currently based in Toronto, the plan is to expand EriPMN to other Canadian cities with local chapters that connect mentors and mentees within their communities. While the network was founded by Eritreans, it's open to mentors and mentees from any background.

Both mentors and mentees get access to: - Industry-specific guidelines and best practices - Professional development articles - Career transition resources for newcomers - Networking tips and templates - Interview prep and resume guides - Industry certification information - Soft skills development materials - Mentorship toolkit with goal-setting frameworks

• •Get started: Register on the website and fill out your application. You'll be invited to join the private LinkedIn group where the network connects.