It's Not a Legacy, It's Just Me

I still remember a simple exercise at a STEM workshop earlier this year: each student held a piece of yarn, passing it across the room as they shared something about themselves. Slowly, a web took shape — fragile yet strong, connecting every hand.

That image has stayed with me. Because mentorship works the same way. It doesn’t end with one conversation, one project, or one career. It multiplies.

I’ve seen this firsthand through APEGA’s mentoring program, Engineers Canada’s 30 by 30 initiative, and Mujeres Omega Foundation. Over the past decade, I’ve coached new engineers on their first projects, encouraged students picturing themselves in STEM, and built spaces where women share stories without judgment.

But what makes mentorship powerful isn’t just the transfer of technical knowledge. It’s the trust built in the process. It’s turning hesitation into confidence, complexity into clarity, and isolation into belonging.

At the IDEA Conference earlier this year, nearly 300 students gathered for a workshop I facilitated. What struck me most wasn’t the activity itself, but the way students responded:

• They felt seen.
• They felt safe to share.
• They left with more confidence than they came in with.

That’s the ripple effect. One empowered student brings that strength to their classroom. One supported engineer shows up differently for their team. One connected woman sparks a community.

Mentorship isn’t an “extra.” It’s a multiplier.

And in engineering, it’s how we build not only better projects — but better leaders.