Learning to Lead™

The Learning to Lead™ Leadership Development Program is an annual program held at the University of British Columbia and the University of Northern British Columbia. It provides young girls, emerging leaders and graduate students with the opportunity to be mentored by accomplished women leaders in business, government and the community.

It brings together 30 high school students, 30 graduate students and 30 business and community leaders from around the province to interact and learn from one another through a series of workshops and activities. A special effort is extended to ensure inclusion of the Aboriginal women’s community. The objective of the program is to provide tools for all participants to achieve their personal, educational and career goals, as well as to advance opportunities for participants to pursue leadership roles in all facets of society including business, government and the community.

Since its inception in 2002, the Learning to Lead™ program has touched hundreds of lives, including:

374 Grade 11 Students
374 Emerging Leaders
374 Community Leaders
157 Facilitators
116 Feature Speakers
317 Organizing Committee/Volunteers

The Minerva Foundation thanks Lis and Bruce Welch for sponsoring awards for students who participate in our Learning to Lead™ North and South programs. These awards encourage students to take what they have learned in the program and use these skills to initiate a leadership activity in their community.

2010 Learning To Lead^TM BC will take place May 28 – 30

Emerging Leaders

The deadline for application is Wednesday, the 31 of March, 2010. If you are interested in applying to become an Emerging Leader, please fill out the application hyperlinked below, and return your submission to the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, attention of Elizabeth Dunbar. Please ensure your application is post marked and/or emailed and/or facsimilied no later than Wednesday, the 31 of March, 2010.

2010 Emerging Leader Invitation to Apply

2010 Emerging Leader Application Form

Attention Secondary Schools:

The deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, the 16^th of March 2010. Application packages were sent out previously. If you have not received a package or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Dunbar, Program Coordinator, at the Minerva Foundation for BC Women.

If you would like to know more about this program, please contact the Minerva Foundation for BC Women:

Elizabeth Dunbar,
Program Coordinator, Economic Security & Leadership
Minerva Foundation for BC Women
1730 – 700 West Georgia Street
PO Box 10036
Vancouver BC V7Y 1A1
Phone 604.683.7635, x226
Facsimile 604.683.7695
elizabethd@theminervafoundation.com

When I moved to Canada in 1998, I was pregnant and all alone. I was scared as to how I would take care of my daughter without a decent standard of education. I realized that without English I would be useless so I focused on improving my English by attending ESL classes at Vancouver Community College. When my English level improved, I was confident enough to go for science courses. And in 2003, the Minerva Foundation offered me the Minerva Foundation Award For BC Women in recognition of my excellent grades at school.
This scholarship changed my life as it offered me the opportunity to take post secondary course. Then when I entered the Licensed Practical Nursing Program in 2006, I faced financial problems. Again, it was Minerva that helped me with funds to solve my financial problems. Now I am working as an LPN and have solid hopes of furthering myself in this field.
Thanks so much to Minerva for giving me a life of hope. Thank you so much Minerva for helping me by believing in my abilities.

Sasiratha Uthayakumar, LPN