5 Years ‘Doingit
January 2020 — IMDOINGIT launches with a simple yet powerful mission: to empower 1000 Black youth to reach their full potential. What began with just nine mentors grew into a dynamic movement, shattering barriers, connecting lives, and driving change. Let’s take a walk down memory lane, shall we?!
The Beginning
On January 2, 2020, IMDOINGIT introduced itself to the world with nine mentors, and within a few days, seven mentors were matched with nine mentees.
Months later, on June 22, 2020, we partnered with Ad industry advocate, Tosin Adeniyi to launch ALL THINGS AD, a virtual info session aimed at equipping Black professionals to break into the Canadian ad industry. The success was overwhelming, and by June 26, ALL THINGS AD officially expanded into a mentorship and career development program. At the time, it was intended to be a one and done, but the demand for more was something we knew we couldn’t ignore. Read more >>
Growth Through Collaboration
IMDOINGIT’s commitment to creating opportunities caught the attention of major players. On January 11, 2021, Google became our first organizational partner, bringing 15 mentors into the fold. By March 22, 2021, Publicis Groupe followed suit, adding 22 more mentors and solidifying IMDOINGIT’s reputation as a bridge between talent and opportunity. To further empower job seekers, we introduced The Verdict on January 28, 2021. With the slogan “fast, frank, and freed”, which at the time was an opportunity for candidates to get immediate, blunt feedback from real recruiters.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued pairing mentors with mentees, encouraging virtual networking, resulting in 114 mentees matched by March 21, 2021.
Innovation Leads the Way
Recognizing the need for scalability, IMDOINGIT secured a grant from Google on August 20, 2021 to automate its mentor-mentee matching process. The result? MentorMatch V1, a groundbreaking web application that launched its beta version on February 22, 2022. Within days:
The first 100 profiles were created (February 25).
The first match was celebrated (February 26): Oreoluwa, a biomedical scientist, met her mentor, Chinaza.
IMDOINGIT wasn’t just innovating—it was transforming lives.
Creating Spaces to Thrive
In June 2022, IMDOINGIT hosted its first in-person event in collaboration with Mediabrands, deepening its impact on the ad industry. By April 2023, The Verdict returned on a larger scale, offering a $10,000 prize to innovative participants like the King sisters, who redefined the auto industry. In the same spirit of progress, Career Basics launched on December 23, 2023 to address the soft skills gap for young Black professionals. From personal branding to leadership development, the program became a cornerstone for growth.
New Heights: Expanding Horizons
IMDOINGIT’s innovation didn’t stop. In April 2024, the ACE Career Expo debuted, creating a vibrant space for talent and recruiters to connect. By July 2024, the Over Brunch series was launched, bringing together emerging and successful entrepreneurs in a unique networking experience.
“We surpassed 1000!”
From its humble beginnings to hosting career expos, launching apps, and securing partnerships with industry giants, IMDOINGIT has become a beacon of hope and opportunity. Its milestones aren’t just achievements—they’re proof that with faith, dedication, and a strong community, anything is possible. We look back and are humbled to have surpassed our goal. When we uplift each other, the possibilities are endless.
