This post is written by Catherine Kuipers, our Business Manager, as she reflects on her experience with the new DigiConnect program.
I was happy to be inivited by DigiBC to participate as a Mentor in DigiConnect, a new sector-wide mentoring network launched in late 2025. This program matches volunteer mentors across animation, VFX, and video games with individuals looking to level up their careers. I’d already been enjoying mentoring Alchemy VFX’s own co-op students, and so decided to say yes and sign up. If you are considering becoming a Mentor for the program and curious about my experience, read on…
I was happy to be inivited by DigiBC to participate as a Mentor in DigiConnect, a new sector-wide mentoring network launched in late 2025. This program matches volunteer mentors across animation, VFX, and video games with individuals looking to level up their careers. I’d already been enjoying mentoring Alchemy VFX’s own co-op students, and so decided to say yes and sign up. If you are considering becoming a Mentor for the program and curious about my experience, read on…Can you be a DigiConnect Mentor without Technical, Coding or Art Skills?
As I worked my way through the intake form, answering questions on my industry skills, areas of expertise and also what I’d like to offer to a Mentee, I found myself wondering how exactly the DigiConnect program would find me a match. As the project and business manager, I’m the one who sits in between the different teams and roles – so I don’t have specific developer skills, and I’m not an artist or a programmer. In terms of my specific subject depth expertise, it’s either locked in behind my non-disclousre obligations, or else highly specific nerdy officeworker wins such as ‘my joy of discovering what you can do with Pivot Tables in Excel’. Did I have enough transferable, interesting and useful experience?
The answer turned out be a resounding yes, with some real surprises and benefits for myself thrown in. I had the privilege of being matched with Raifah Rahman, a 4th year Computer Science student at UBC who had happily secured a co-op programmer position with Offworld game studio. DigiConnect sent me Raifahs’ intake form, where I could see her specific questions and desires to improve her professional networking, and also to discuss strategies on overcoming imposter syndrome – something that is very common especially in younger women as they navigate the games industry.
Mentorship offers something missing: Supportive, Human Connection
Raifah also shared some of her personal story, which immeditely humanised the whole process and reminded me that mentoring is not the same as teaching, coaching, or managing. As a Mentor, there is room for acknowledgement of our very human stories and struggles, lessons learned and perhaps the more implicit wisdom we gain along the way. I could reflect back to the younger me, remember how I felt, and how helpful it was to have those a bit older take the time to listen and offer some insight. Mentoring isn’t just for skills and technical know-how – we have a million youtube videos and dubiously confident AI responses for that – mentoring can fill a much more human need, to feel that someone further down the road than you cares enough to reach back and help you along.
What Are the Benefits of Mentoring for Seasoned Professionals?
It’s not all one-way benefit either. It’s refreshing and energising to connect to a younger person at the start of their career, with newer perspectives and enthusiasm for the industry. Raifah showed up to our mentorship sessions alert and engaged, with some great questions for me. The opportunity to pause, reflect, and recall my own story, wins, challenges and even some hard-earned strategies, brought a lot to the surface of my awareness that I’d either forgotten or just took for granted as obvious. This experience helped me appreciate just how far I’ve come since I graduated as a newbie Cogntitive Scientist (and this is waaaay back, before Cogntiive Science was even cool. That I still stubbornly say ‘cool’ and not ‘dope’ or ‘slaps’ probably dates me but hey).
Why You Should Join the Next DigiConnect Cohort
The TLDR moral of the story here is : if you are considering the DigiConnect program, as Mentee or Mentor, then just sign up and do it. It’s a great opportunity for all involved. DigiBC is a very authentic and human-centric organisation, and the program itself, even as a pilot, was run with just the right amount of structure and support. DigiBC’s team were very available to answer questions and help out, and they even had a dedicated community channel for mentors in the program.
I will end with Raifah sharing her feedback on the program and experience with me:
Raifah Rahman, Computer Science Student – UBC
Being part of the DigiConnect mentorship program has given me the rare opportunity to connect with a female professional within the gaming industry, which I am passionate about entering as I near the end of my degree. Being a POC and a woman in tech has been nothing short of daunting, but Catherine has really aided me with solid career advice in regards to networking and imposter syndrome, as well as positive affirmations of my lived experience and current efforts. Something I really appreciated was how she ensured that our meetings were tailored specifically to my interests and career aspirations, as this allowed me to get the most out of this program and genuinely built my confidence for when I start looking for full time jobs.At Alchemy VFX we are proud to foster the growth of aspiring creative technology professionals, and I look forward to future DigiConnect programs.
If you are a student or recent graduate eager to gain experience in a professional, project-driven environment, please get in touch with us!
Learn more about DigiConnect and other DigiBC initiatives.
Read Guidance, Growth, and Connection: Introducing DigiBC’s Creative Tech Mentorship Program