Empowering Youth for the Jobs of Today and Tomorrow

The future of work is changing. Youth are motivated and embrace lifelong learning as a key to their success – but they still need support.

Join us for this FREE webinar series from RBC Future Launch to hear from researchers and youth-serving organizations discussing resources focused on supporting Canadian youth with skill development, practical work experiences, networking and mentorship supports.

This 3-part webinar series will cover a range of engaging topics, from scholarships to post-secondary education, to practical tools for youth seeking job experiences and skill development opportunities. Participants will also get the chance to gain insights from research on the labour market and further understand the outcomes for youth participating in career development programming.

Throughout the series, career practitioners and educators will get the chance to hear from and engage with subject matter experts and sector leaders and get actionable insights on programs and initiatives that have made a significant impact on youth. Participants will be exposed to a diversity of free programs and resources to add to their toolkit. By the end of the series, career development practitioners – especially those working with youth aged 15-29 – will leave with practical knowledge, tools and resources they can apply and share in their work with their young clients.

In this webinar, a researcher from the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo will share the results of the RBC Young People & Economic Inclusion Longitudinal Study.

• Learn from research conducted by the Youth & Innovation Project at the University of Waterloo about employment outcomes for youth across Canada participating in career development programming
• Engage with data-informed insights into young Canadians’ current reality and the future of work
• Learn from youth directly about their outlook on the future of work

RECORDING SESSION #1:

Valentina Castillo Cifuentes is the Research Manager at the Youth & Innovation Project. She oversees the design and implementation of the Social and Environmental Impact Research Program and the Economic Impact Research Program, including the RBC Young People & Economic Inclusion Longitudinal Study. Valentina has extensive research experience in social impact measuring and youth program evaluation. She holds a Master of Environmental Studies in Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo and a sociology degree from the Universidad Diego Portales in Chile.

In this webinar, RBC will share the findings of its recently published thought leadership report Untapped Potential: Opening Doors to Opportunity Through Scholarships. You will also learn about the RBC Future Launch suite of scholarships that support access to post-secondary education for youth who remain underrepresented in colleges and universities. 

• Understand the barriers youth face in accessing scholarships for post-secondary education
• Discover how career development professionals can play a role in supporting youth navigating the ecosystem of scholarships
• Explore collaboration opportunities across sectors to better support youth to access and benefit from scholarships

RECORDING SESSION #2:

MODERATOR:

Farahnaaz Kanji is passionate about empowering the next generation and strives to make a positive impact in the lives of young people through her work. She currently leads the strategy and execution of RBC Future Launch as Director, Social Impact & Innovation where she is focused on supporting young people across the country. Farahnaaz’s social impact journey started as a volunteer at various organizations. As a first generation Canadian, she understands the barriers newcomers face, and her most recent experience evolving RBC’s newcomer strategy allowed her to make a difference at the local level. Farahnaaz has over 10 years’ experience in the financial services industry, and holds an honour’s bachelor degree in business administration with a minor in psychology.

PANELISTS:

Jane Thompson is Executive Director of the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership. She has served as member and president of the Board of Directors of the National Scholarship Providers Association and co-founded the Canadian Scholarship Providers Roundtable. Jane has a PhD in history from the University of Toronto and is the author of “Resilient Woman: Weaving Together Work, Family, and Self.”

Rory Grewar was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada and attended the University of Manitoba. He worked as a Senior Administrator with the Manitoba Government’s Environment Commission for 14 years before moving to B.C. to become Director of Administration at the David Suzuki Foundation. In 2010, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to move to Vancouver Island when he joined the staff of the Victoria Foundation.
In his capacity as the Foundation’s Director of Special Funds, Rory manages the scholarship and award programs of the BC Scholarship Society, the provinces largest non-profit scholarship organization, granting in excess of $4.0M annually to post-secondary students in BC.

In this webinar, participants will learn about free online programs and resources offered through RBC Future Launch and from RBC partner organizations in the career development ecosystem.

• Hear from career development professionals and other youth-serving team members at RBC partner organizations including charities and social enterprises about how their work supports youth with tools for the jobs of today and tomorrow
• Learn what tools are available through RBC Future Launch to support skills development, practical work experience, networking and mentorship, and youth mental well-being
• Explore how to incorporate online tools and resources into your career development/coaching practice

RECORDING SESSION #3:

MODERATOR:

Sarah Strom is a social impact professional that is passionate about human rights and creating positive and sustainable change through meaningful partnerships and trust-based philanthropy. She currently supports the strategy and execution of RBC Future Launch as Senior Manager, Social Impact & Innovation, where she is focused on supporting young people across the country. Sarah believes that even the smallest actions by individuals can change the world and is grateful to be able to contribute to the betterment of society through her work and volunteering. Sarah has over 7 years of diverse experience in both the non-profit and for-profit sector, and holds an honours bachelor’s degree in International Development and a graduate diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

PANELISTS:

Vaishnavy Gupta is the Head of Go-to-Market at FutureFit AI, a workforce technology platform that helps organizations, governments, and educational institutions navigate the future of work. Using AI-powered tools, the platform provides personalized career navigation, connects individuals with upskilling resources, and helps employers find candidates with the right skills while supporting talent development and retention. With extensive experience scaling high-growth startups, Vaishnavy is passionate about supporting Canada’s employment ecosystem, particularly for marginalized communities.

Zachary Rose leads strategic planning, partnerships, and high-impact initiatives across Magnet’s pan-Canadian community. Working closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership, he oversees the development and implementation of cross-organizational priorities, advisory board management, and organizational impact strategy. Zak plays a pivotal role in driving Magnet’s long-term vision, facilitating high-level strategy conversations, and actively seeking opportunities for collaboration and thought leadership across Canada’s employment and training landscape. He is committed to fostering strong partnerships at the forefront of innovation and sustainability for the future of work.

Youth deserve a better chance. They’re motivated and embrace lifelong learning as a key to their success – but they still need support. Which is why we’ve made a commitment to them and to Canada’s future.

We are moving beyond financial investment by engaging the public and private sectors to further understand the issue and make a significant impact on the lives of young Canadians.

RBC Future Launch is a catalyst for change – bringing people together to co-create solutions so young people are better prepared for the future of work.

Access hundreds of programs, tools and resources designed by our partners to help youth launch their career.

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