Monash University student Mahak Jain joined Career Connect looking for clarity on where a finance career could take her. She got that, and more. Her mentor, Matt Harris, Financial Adviser at Canaccord Genuity, didn't just offer insights and advice, he gave her a hands-on experience that sharpened her sense of the professional she wants to become.
Mahak is completing a Masters of Banking and Finance, and is drawn to investment management and advice. Feeling wary of locking herself into one lane too early, she turned to Career Connect to explore different pathways.
"Career Connect helped me understand the different roles within finance and has made me more open to areas I hadn't really considered before," she says. "The biggest thing for me was realising there are more career paths within finance than I initially thought, and it's helped me think more seriously about what type of work I'd actually enjoy."
This is exactly what Career Connect is built to do - give students direct access to people already doing the work so they can test their assumptions against real experience instead of guesswork.
A connection that built her confidence
Mahak and Matt's mentoring relationship started the way the best ones do: relaxed and genuinely curious.
"Our initial conversation was quite informal and focused on getting to know each other, discussing my background, my studies and career interests, and what I was hoping to get out of the mentoring relationship," she says. "Matt was very approachable, which made it easy to have an open conversation from the beginning."
They agreed to meet again and the conversations kept building, covering careers in finance, professional skills, career progression, networking, and how to make the most of an internship.
"One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of being proactive about my career rather than simply waiting for opportunities to come to me," she says. "Matt has encouraged me to ask questions, build relationships with people in the industry and take advantage of opportunities to learn from those around me."
"Our conversations have given me more confidence about my career path and helped me approach it with a more open and proactive mindset."
From virtual conversations to a real-world opportunity
After a few online sessions, Matt could see the potential and enthusiasm Mahak had for a finance career, and suggested she shadow him in the office one day a week throughout July to see the industry firsthand. Mahak jumped at the opportunity.
"I attended the office once a week where I was able to observe Matt's day-to-day work and gain a better understanding of how a professional financial planning firm operates," she says. "It was a great opportunity to see the practical side of the industry and understand how concepts I have studied at university are applied in a real workplace."
It gave her a front-row seat to how client relationships are managed, how wealth management professionals approach their daily work, and why communication matters as much as technical knowledge. "It also helped me develop a clearer understanding of what a career in financial services can look like and gave me greater confidence going into my own internship and future career."
For Matt, the mentoring experience was just as impactful.
"I really enjoyed my time mentoring Mahak. She's bright, curious and genuinely eager to learn, which made our conversations incredibly easy and rewarding," he says. "It was great being able to share some of the things I've learned through my own career, but I also found that mentoring gave me a chance to reflect on my own experiences from a completely different perspective. It definitely felt like a two-way experience rather than simply me teaching her."
Matt's support for Mahak's development reflects the broader commitment that his firm, Canaccord Genuity,has to promoting gender diversity within wealth management. As a valued partner of Future IM/Pact and a WORK180 endorsed employer for women, they actively champion female representation across the industry.
Advice for other mentees
Mahak's advice to other Career Connect mentees is simple. "Come prepared with a few questions, but also let the conversation flow naturally," she says. "Be open, ask questions and don't be afraid to learn from your mentor's experiences. Most importantly, take the initiative and make the most of the opportunity."
Career Connect allows you to skip the search engine and go straight to the source, connecting you with investors and advisers keen to share their experience and advice in person. With more than 85 mentors across funds and wealth management, Career Connect is your direct line into the industry.
Read Mahak's Q&A to hear more about her experience and career goals.
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