Celebrating the Success of Our Second Cohort: Infostrux BIPOC Mentorship Program

This May, Infostrux successfully concluded the second cohort of our BIPOC Mentorship Program. 

This initiative aimed to support and empower talented students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), providing them with invaluable hands-on experience and mentorship in the data management field.

We received applications from all over the country, and five computer science students were selected to join the cohort. This year, we welcomed students from Eastern to Western Canada, creating a truly nationwide program. We are thrilled to announce that three of our students have successfully passed the Snowflake SnowPro Core Certification already! This achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the comprehensive support our program provides.

Program Overview

The Infostrux BIPOC Mentorship Program offered a 3-month flexible learning, 100% remote opportunity designed to give students practical experience with Snowflake, a leading data cloud platform. Participants in the program received:

• Access to a comprehensive Snowflake course and practice sets via Udemy's e-learning platform.
• Two Snowflake SnowPro Core Certification Exam vouchers.
• A 10-hour unpaid internship with Infostrux's Engineering Team.
• Mentorship from one of Infostrux's experienced Engineering Managers.

Our goal is to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in data science and data management, preparing them to become the next generation of data professionals.

Meet Our Mentees

Xavier Desroches Borelly, from London, Ontario, attending Western University, shared, "I felt that the most important idea I got exposure to was the real-world application of data science concepts. This program positively influenced my educational journey by providing practical experience and invaluable mentorship."

Tammy Young, from Edmonton, Alberta, attending the University of Alberta, expressed, "This program inspired me to delve deeper into data analytics. The support from my mentor was outstanding, and it motivated me to pursue a career in data science."

Temi Otun, from Edmonton, Alberta, attending the University of Alberta, said, "I learned how to self-study effectively. The program provided me with the tools and resources needed to succeed in data science, and the mentorship was incredibly supportive."

Aslan Pereira, from Kelowna, British Columbia, attending Okanagan College, noted, "As a student, I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. The internship and mentorship experience were crucial in shaping my career path in data engineering."

Maaz Ali, from Edmonton, Alberta, attending the University of Alberta, highlighted, "The program positively influenced my professional journey. The hands-on experience with Snowflake and the mentorship provided by Infostrux's team were the most impactful aspects."

Mentor Testimonial

Our mentors also found the experience to be highly rewarding. Matt van Zanten, one of our mentors, reflected, "I had the opportunity to mentor Aslan in Data Engineering and DevOps, introducing him to modern data, infrastructure, and CI/CD tooling, as well as providing practical experience.

We met in person during a social event hosted by our team in Vancouver, which added a personal touch to our sessions. This mentorship program is vital for Infostrux, offering a chance to support the community.

As my second time mentoring in this program, I find these meetings incredibly impactful and see great potential in continuing this initiative."

Looking Forward

Infostrux remains dedicated to supporting organizations in transitioning to data-driven decision-making and unlocking the value of business data through powerful data analytics, data science, and data products. Our BIPOC Mentorship Program continues to be a cornerstone of this commitment, helping students gain the practical experience needed to excel in their future careers.

As we reflect on the success of our second cohort, we are excited to announce that we are expecting a third cohort next year. Stay tuned for future cohorts, and if you are interested in participating, you can apply through this link.

For more information about our company and the BIPOC Mentorship Program, please visit our community page by clicking here. 
Together, let's empower the next generation of data professionals and champion diversity in the tech industry.