CYPE x EFCIE Elevate your edge: Mentorship & Boards

Building your growth team: Mentors, advisors and boards

March 23
Abbotsford Campus
Networking and Mentorship

About the Event

The Chamber’s Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (CYPE) and the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE) continue the Elevate Your Edge series with an engaging session focused on mentorship and early-stage governance.

Designed for students, alumni, young professionals, and emerging entrepreneurs, this program explores the practical realities of building a strong “growth team” that includes mentors, advisors, and boards. Attendees will learn when to seek guidance, how to build meaningful mentorship relationships, and what foundational governance support looks like in the early stages of career and venture development.

Participants will leave with applied strategies, inspiring insights, and new connections within the UFV, CYPE, and Fraser Valley business communities.

Event Details

Date: March 23, 2026
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: UFV Abbotsford Campus, EFCIE (Building K), Room K180
Dress Code: Business casual or smart casual

Presented By:
CYPE (Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce)
Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE)
UFV Alumni Association

What You’ll Learn

When and how to seek mentorship
What mentors expect from mentees
The difference between mentors, advisors, and board members
Early-stage governance considerations for new ventures
How support systems evolve as your career or business grows
How to navigate uncertainty and accelerate growth with the right guidance

Featured Panelists

Don R. Campbell

Economic researcher, bestselling author and President, Cutting Edge Research Inc.

Don brings decades of experience analysing Canadian real estate markets and advising governments and businesses. A dedicated mentor and community leader, he has raised over $2.3 million for charitable causes, including Habitat for Humanity and the A440 Charitable Foundation.

Jason Lum

Business leader, community advocate, long-standing public servant, and one of UFV’s 50 Remarkable Alumni

Jason contributes extensive governance and civic leadership experience across municipal and regional sectors, along with deep insights into economic development and community building.

Cathy Press

CEO, Chinook Helicopters; UFV Honorary Doctorate recipient

A trailblazer in Canadian aviation, Cathy is the country’s first female helicopter flight instructor and the only individual certified as a Transport Canada Pilot Examiner in both airplanes and helicopters. She leads a rapidly expanding training organization and serves on multiple national aviation boards.

Vineet Varghese

Vice-President, Commercial Financial Services, RBC

Vineet leads a high-performing team supporting nearly 900 businesses across the Fraser Valley and Langley. A committed community leader, he serves on multiple boards and champions equity and inclusion initiatives within RBC.

Who Should Attend?

Emerging professionals ready to grow their networks
Students exploring leadership, entrepreneurship, or career development
Founders seeking guidance on forming advisory teams or governance structures
Anyone interested in mentorship, career clarity, or business leadership

Why Attend?

Practical steps for finding and working with mentors
Advice from experienced leaders across diverse sectors
A better understanding of when to build an advisory or corporate board
Strategies to grow confidently in your career or venture
New professional connections across UFV, CYPE, and the local business community

Register

Registration is hosted through the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce.

Complimentary registration is available for UFV alumni, students and CYPE members.