OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER, I have been fortunate to be mentored by many excellent leaders in our industry. This was a significant factor that has helped guide me in managing people and building relationships while staying focused on generating results. In turn, I too have been a mentor to a diverse group of individuals, including CFA Society Toronto’s Mentorship Program, which officially began in 2008. Our Society’s Mentorship Program requires the mentor and mentee to set up a mutually agreeable program, which is typically a one-hour monthly meeting over the course of a one-year term. In my first year participating as a mentor, it became apparent that this program was a very meaningful way to give back, and it reinforced the fact that both sides—not just the mentee—can gain a lot from each other. That is why I have continued to participate over the years.

On a similar note, Marg Franklin, CFA, Past President of CFA Society Toronto, was honoured earlier this summer with an intimate celebration at which she was awarded CFA Institute’s Alfred C. “Pete” Morley Distinguished Service Award. In Marg’s acceptance speech, she spoke about how that tap on the shoulder to serve as a mentor can be life altering and how one plus one can equal 10 when we work together. We congratulate Marg on the receipt of this award and thank her for her efforts as an ambassador to the designation, for her mentorship and her volunteerism, both locally and globally. Marg’s celebratory video is posted on our website so all can view her story and her significant contributions to our industry.

From personal experience, I know that being able to say yes to that tap on the shoulder from someone who has a vote of confidence in what you can accomplish is a tremendous feeling. It is with great pride that I welcome our board members, new and returning, and commend them for saying yes to their current and future leadership roles. I would also like to thank our board members whose terms have ended and our dedicated volunteers who help make what we do so worthwhile.

This fall we have an exciting lineup of programming to help sharpen your competitive edge as well as network within our vibrant investment community. I would also like to ask those of you with industry experience to think about “tapping yourself on the shoulder” as a charterholder and consider mentoring people around you while remembering how others did the same for you all those years ago.