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Alumni duo benefit from Dalhousie mentorship program

Entrepreneur Taylor Quinn (BA’15) and recent grad Rose Schoonhoven (BMgmt’21) have been working together as mentor and mentee through the Dalhousie Alumni Link program for the past four months. They meet virtually once a month to discuss Schoonhoven’s career plans, her recent wins and struggles, and chat about their shared interest in Halifax’s non-profit sector.

Posted: December 8, 2023

By: Emily MacKinnon

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When Taylor Quinn (BA’15) and Rose Schoonhoven (BMgmt’21) got paired in Dalhousie’s Fall 2023 alumni mentorship program, neither of them knew what to expect.

They had both received an alumni newsletter mentioning the Dalhousie Alumni Link a few months earlier and were intrigued. Quinn, for the opportunity to expand his leadership skills and the chance to share his knowledge to assist others. Schoonhoven, for the chance to have a dedicated mentor to pose industry-specific questions to.

They clicked and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Alumni Link program facilitates monthly video chats between mentors and mentees who are both Dal grads working (or aspiring to work) in similar fields even though they may have graduated from different Dal faculties. They talk about current projects, skills development, advice for next steps and sometimes just friendly commiseration.

Quinn and Schoonhoven have a shared interest in the non-profit sector — Quinn is an entrepreneur based in B.C. and Schoonhoven is a recent grad living in Halifax — and they use their monthly meetings to catch each other up on what is happening in their respective cities and careers.

In their own words

“The benefit of having a dedicated mentor is being able to build upon your knowledge each month and ask questions,” says Schoonhoven. “I was able to learn more by sharing actions or advice I had taken and then following up with Taylor.” Alumni Link mentees gain valuable career guidance from someone who has been there.

Quinn says becoming a mentor is a bit of a full-circle experience. He credits his many (formal and informal) mentors from his Dal days and says, “[Mentorship] is a really practical and easy way for me to add real value to the community.”

Skills gained through mentorship

A less-obvious skill Quinn has gained from his time as a mentor has been listening with intent. “A mentor-mentee relationship requires really deep listening skills to understand what this mentee is looking for,” Quinn explains. “What are their hopes and dreams and challenges? And then how can I support them in their hopes and dreams and challenges?” He says volunteering his time for something so genuinely selfless is rewarding. “It’s a really good learning exercise, from a place of genuine care, to learn how you can support someone else.”

Shoonhoven, for her part, says she approaches the whole mentorship with a growth mindset. “I gained confidence and knowledge about my industry in my monthly conversations with Taylor,” she says. “Being open to testing out new ideas as a way to find innovative solutions.

Quinn says in addition to the genuine friendships that are forged, some mentors may even mine mentees as future interns or employees, making the partnership win-win.

Career support post-grad

While Dalhousie staff work hard to pair mentors and mentees with similar interests and backgrounds, they know all alumni in the program will have the shared experience of graduating from Dal. “Having a Dalhousie alum as a mentor is the extension of support you get at Dalhousie as you start a new chapter in your life,” says Shoonhoven. “I found it very beneficial to have someone who was willing to take the time to share their knowledge and help you navigate those early years of your career in your industry.”

If you want to become a Dal Alumni Link mentor or receive guidance as a mentee, we invite you to learn more about the program and access the application.

Sign up for mentorship