One of the most meaningful ways CFA charterholders can demonstrate leadership is by mentoring the next generation.

Most of us can point to someone early in our careers who took the time to help us see what was possible and how to get there. CFA Society Toronto’s Next Gen Program is about paying that forward, real-world exposure to the profession and the encouragement and support that turns talent into confidence and capability.

Our Next Gen Program is built to support the journey into the profession, from secondary school exploration through university and into the CFA Program as a candidate. It is guided by our Next Gen Steering Committee and delivered through three committees: Secondary School Relations, University Relations and Candidate Relations, with dedicated volunteer teams behind each stream.

Through our partnership with the Toronto District School Board, serving 579 schools, we offer a presentation on career pathways in finance and deliver virtual sessions that connect educators and students with practical insight into finance and investment careers. Through Ontario Career Lab, an initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Education, our volunteers participated in Career Conversations with Grade 9 and 10 students, sharing career stories and answering candid questions about what the work is really like.

At the university level, our focus is on applied experience and career readiness. Through our annual Embrace the Challenge event, we recognize our Undergraduate Finance and Economics Award winners and have student teams test their judgment and professionalism in real time through ethics and research competitions. A new initiative is CareerFest, where we give students practical “hiring literacy” on how early talent hiring works, what employers look for and how to stand out for the right reasons, paired with an “ask-me-anything” speed mentoring format that provides students with concrete next steps for resumes, interviews, networking and follow-through.

For candidates, Our Candidate Relations Committee is developing a Study Group Program in strategic partnership with the Rotman Finance Lab. The study group model is led by candidates and supported by CFA Society Toronto: students organize and run the groups on campus, and we provide the program backbone, templates, structure and guidebooks that candidates can use to organize and run their own study groups, wherever they are.

Our Next Gen Program’s most unique value is in the power of connecting students with CFA charterholders. Students often imagine our profession as a narrow set of roles. In reality, CFA charterholders work across research, risk management, private wealth, capital markets, corporate finance and strategy, compliance, fintech and more. Demand from schools and universities is growing, and we need more members willing to share their career journeys and offer practical advice by speaking in classrooms and at campus events.

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to lead, I invite you to volunteer as a speaker, mentor, judge, panellist or Next Gen committee volunteer. A few hours of your time can change a student’s trajectory.

Sincerely,