How the Montalbano Mentorship Program turned crossroads into clarity for two UBC Sauder students

Abeer Amir is no stranger to mentorship. As the outgoing President of the Commerce Undergraduate Society at the UBC Sauder School of Business, she ran a coffee chat program where dozens of students would book time with her to ask about leadership, involvement, and navigating school.

While giving advice came naturally to her, she wasn’t sure who she could turn to herself.

"There was no one in particular I would talk to about the issues that I was facing, because I didn't really know anyone that could be that support for me," said Abeer.

With the presidency behind her and an exciting career path ahead, Amir was ready to lay down her mentor's hat and don a mentee's.

That change came at the start of 2025, when Amir enrolled into the Montalbano Mentorship Program. Organized by the Montalbano Centre for Responsible Leadership Development (MCRL), the program is designed to foster meaningful connections by pairing a select group of high performing UBC Sauder students with alumni mentors. The application process caters to students who demonstrate potential for responsible leadership, and who are poised to benefit from one-on-one connections with alumni who have extensive leadership experience.

The objective of the program is to transform these students—skilled and accomplished in their own ways, but often at a crossroads—into future responsible leaders.

“I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get that kind of structure in my life,” said Amir. “With my graduation on the horizon, I was nearing a new milestone and didn't know what the next chapter held.”

'Made me a more thoughtful person'

Amir was matched with Omar Ladak, UBC Sauder MBA alumnus as well as entrepreneur and Co-Founder of the investment firm Noverra Group of Companies.

"Omar is probably the most well-spoken person I’ve ever met,” Amir said. “He has a quote, a book, a saying for everything and he's genuinely made me a more thoughtful person."

From day one, Ladak became Amir's go-to person for advice on everything from big-picture questions about her career to managing workplace challenges.

"I remember struggling with a particular team conflict and felt pressure to solve it quickly. That's when Ladak shared a metaphor: 'Don’t clench your fist around an idea too early'," recounted Amir. "What he said helped me pause, stay open to perspectives and resist the urge to immediately solve everything. I later led a meeting with my colleagues where we evaluated options together instead of rushing."

The result? Amir’s manager applauded her for handling the challenge.

She said Ladak’s own immigrant family experience shaped their mentor-mentee relationship.

"We come from similar backgrounds, so we were able to relate and have a deeper and more personal connection."
 

Being mentored through a career transition

Establishing meaningful connections is a recurring theme of the Montalbano Mentorship Program, and it's one that Uma Thurnau understands well. Thurnau was paired with Cary Blake, CEO and Managing Partner at AGAWA Fund Management Inc.

Blake was a valuable source of support during Thurnau’s recent transition. She started her career as an Investment Banking Analyst in Toronto, where she gained technical experience. While the role offered strong prospects, she was interested in exploring the “buy-side,” where firms like asset managers, hedge funds and private equity groups invest clients’ money to help it grow.

So, Thurnau re-entered the job market, receiving job offers across private equity, asset management and venture capital.

“Despite the temptation to accept an offer in difficult market conditions, I needed to find the right team and culture,” said Thurnau.

That’s where Blake stepped in.

"Cary helped me see my strengths in client-facing work and steered me in the right direction," said Thurnau.

Blake showed Thurnau how her experience and skills in building financial models, conducting due diligence and preparing presentations were transferable to private funds. He encouraged her to look into investor relations as a plausible career and provided on-going support in her transition.

After Thurnau recognized her strengths, she landed a role in Investor Relations at Brookfield, a leading global alternative asset manager.

"The program was instrumental in navigating my exit from banking,” Thurnau said. “Cary gave me the confidence to take the leap when no one else did."

Mentors foster responsible leaders of tomorrow

The Mentorship Program spotlights the generous spirit of the mentors and UBC Sauder's alumni network.

“Their willingness to support students and alumni through pivotal career moments reflects leadership in the community that inspires others,” said Thurnau.

"It meant everything to me.”

For Amir, the mentorship program has shone a light on the kind of mindset she needs to cultivate to become a leader.

"I used to think I had to perfect an idea before presenting it. Now, I understand that confidently sharing something 85 per cent finished is enough to move things forward,” Amir said. “Omar taught me leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for clarity, even in the mess.”

The mentors' generosity has no end in sight. Blake has offered to continue mentoring Thurnau after the program finishes in September. Amir and Ladak have been meeting for over ten months and plan to stay in touch after the program officially ends.