May 13, 2025Articles Max Chan on Mentorship: A Two-Way Street to Growth and Success Mentorship can play a powerful role in career success. For mentors and mentees alike, these relationships can boost confidence, lead to better job satisfaction and accelerate career advancement. It can also promote a culture of inclusivity, leadership and collaboration within an organization.We recently spoke with Max Chan, one of Ascend Canada’s Leadership Award winners this year and Senior Vice president and Corporate Development Officer at Enbridge. A dedicated mentor, Chan shares the role mentorship has played throughout his own career and why he believes it’s one of the most meaningful ways to shape people, teams and organizations for the better. Join as a member Paying it forward: The ripple effect of mentorship Mentorship has always played a powerful role in Max Chan’s personal and professional life. A vocal champion of it today, he traces his passion back to the positive influence of mentors early in his career. “I was the beneficiary of really good mentors early in my life,” he explains. “I realized very quickly the impact they had on my development. I thought, if this could be helpful for me, it must be helpful for someone else coming up after me.”For over 20 years, Chan has mentored mostly undergraduate business students at the University of Calgary – as well as MBA and non-business students. The impact of mentorship on students, Chan notes, is particularly meaningful. “The conversation is broad – from changing majors to handling a first job interview to addressing a challenge in a student club. At the core, it’s about helping students and young people figure out who they are, what’s important to them and refine that into some kind of career direction.”When it comes to mentoring professionals, the approach changes. “It’s more tactical and much more specific,” he says. “It’s quite often having a conversation about a workplace issue – it’s about providing very specific, actionable advice, rather than broad guidance. Established professionals generally have a good sense of where they’re trying to go – they know the destination so it’s just about trying to help them through the journey.” Join us at our events How mentorship builds stronger teams and better leaders Chan believes mentorship has the power to transform organizations, having impact across all levels. For leaders, it’s both a sign of leadership strength and a way to develop it. “Mentorship is a chance to talk to employees and get to know them – and to offer sage advice about life and business,” he says. “It’s also a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of the issues on the minds of the next generation of employees.”Building inclusivityIn fact, Chan has seen firsthand how mentorship can build more inclusive workplaces. In his roles at Enbridge for instance – many of the fields are still heavily male-dominated – he has helped champion greater representation of women and culturally diverse professionals.He also recalls starting off his career in 2001 when there were very few Asian Canadian senior executives in any industry across Canada. Today, many major companies have Asian Canadians in C-Suite roles. “I combine role modeling and mentoring together. The visibility of having a leader in senior roles at big companies goes a long way. And taking on an active mentorship role provides not just hope, but real guidance, motivation and inspiration for others coming up behind them.”Building human connectionMentorship also fosters better communication and stronger team relationships across an organization. “It’s having conversations. At the end of the day, no matter what industry you’re in, it all comes down to human interactions and human relationships. So, anything you can do to make that deeper and more important, your company’s going to be better.” Finding the right mentor So, how do you choose the right mentor?What to look for in a mentorChan encourages people to be thoughtful when seeking out a mentor. “It could be someone in your organization or your community,” he says. The most important things to look for? Shared values, the ability to have honest conversations and a style of communication that resonates with you. “If you see someone whose approach to people and the world aligns with your own, that’s a good starting point.”Why look outside your comfort zoneHe also advises looking beyond your immediate circle. “Often there’s a bias to pick someone who knows you well – but that person may not be the one who will give you the tough feedback you need. It’s helpful to find someone outside your direct work group or even outside your company – someone with enough distance to give you unbiased insight.”Tips for new professionalsThat said, newer professionals may benefit from a mentor within their team. “When you’re early in your career, especially in a large company, the whole corporate system can feel like a maze. In that case, someone inside the company can help you navigate it. As your career evolves, however, so too might your ideal mentor – possibly someone outside your field who brings fresh perspective.”Chan also highlights the personal side of mentorship. “Talk about family, hobbies, the things that make you who you are. That’s how good, productive relationships form,” he says. “I’ve attended weddings and family events with mentees – because when you do it right, it becomes a friendship.” Why mentors make better leaders Asked whether there’s a leadership benefit to being a mentor, Chan’s answer is clear:“The short answer is absolutely, unequivocally yes.”Training ground for leadership positionsHe explains that mentorship is leadership in action – and that long before he held a formal people leadership responsibility, mentorship helped shape his approach. “When I officially became a people leader at work, I found that the mentorship experience had trained me very well. It made me much better equipped.” The skills are closely aligned: being a good listener, provoking thoughtful conversation, offering sound advice and delivering tough messages constructively.Learning from the next generationChan adds that mentors also benefit from the exchange with mentees. “I always say I get as much out of these relationships as my mentees do. It keeps me in touch with the real challenges students and young professionals are facing today.” From emerging tech influences like AI and big data, to shifting career expectations, he learns as much as he teaches.The true rewards of mentorshipBut perhaps the most rewarding part of being a mentor is seeing the long-term impact. “It’s amazing to see someone’s life or career take off and to know you played a small role in that. You get to be along for the ride.”Time worth takingFor those unsure whether they have time for mentorship, Chan offers a simple perspective:“Time is the only investment here – it can be 15 minutes every few weeks. I’ll be the first to admit it can be hard to find time, but if you prioritize it as important, you’ll make time.”Chan adds that anybody can be a mentor – or a mentee – at any time of their life of career. These relationships can always offer professional and personal benefits. “You’re never too young or too inexperienced to become a mentor – and you’re never too old or experienced to not have a mentor in your life. You’re never so successful that you don’t need someone to be a sounding board for you.”If you’re thinking of exploring mentorship – either as a mentor or a mentee – Ascend Canada is here to support you, with tools, community and resources designed to guide your career journey. Read more FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
