During my three-month graduate preceptorship with Sherida as my mentor, she provided exemplary mentorship by offering immediate support and ensuring I never felt unsupported. Throughout my time at CAMH, I conducted a comprehensive needs assessment aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Team Lead role. Initially, Sherida was accessible via email, consistently demonstrating prompt responsiveness. As the project demands grew, Sherida generously provided her contact number for urgent inquiries. Despite Sherida's demanding role as Director of Nursing Practice, she consistently made time to address my queries, offer guidance, and impart valuable knowledge, never once making me feel like a burden. Following graduation from my Masters of Nursing, I obtained position at CAMH as a Nurse Educator, with Sherida assuming the role of both my director and mentor. Several months later, personal circumstances lead me to make the difficult decision to depart from CAMH. I was apprehensive about disappointing Sherida with this news. However, her response was characterized by unwavering support and profound understanding. She counselled me through the process of prioritizing personal and familial obligations, maintaining a professionalism while exhibiting a grace and eloquence I aspire to embody myself one day.

Sherida's mentorship is characterized by her exceptional ability to enhance mentees' problem-solving skills, empowering them to navigate complex challenges with confidence and resilience. A example of this occurred when I was learning about strategies for data collection via interviews aimed at mitigating staff resistance. Despite the complexity involved, Sherida guided me through a systematic problem-solving process, encouraging critical thinking and analysis. Rather than providing a straightforward solution, she prompted me to explore various perspectives, evaluate potential outcomes, and devise action plan. Through her insightful guidance, I not only mediated the potential issue, but also developed a deeper understanding of effective problem-solving strategies. Furthermore, Sherida consistently incorporates problem-solving opportunities into our mentorship sessions, presenting real-life scenarios from her extensive experience in nursing leadership. These discussions serve as invaluable learning opportunities, allowing mentees to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations while honing their analytical skills. For instance, when confronted with rapid organizational changes, Sherida facilitated collaborative problem-solving sessions with the Nurse Educators, fostering a culture of innovation and creative problem-solving within the team. Her mentorship extends beyond addressing immediate concerns; she instills a proactive mindset in her mentees, equipping them with the tools and confidence to tackle obstacles effectively.

As a graduate student completing my placement under the guidance, I experienced firsthand her remarkable use of reflective questions and feedback to foster the development of critical thinking skills on micro levels, directly with her immediate teams, and meso levels through the organization. During the development of my graduate project, when providing guidance to me, rather than simply providing answers to my questions, she encouraged me to delve deeper into the situation by asking probing questions such as, "What factors do you believe would influence data collection?" and "How might alternative approaches impact the outcome?" Through this process, I gained valuable insights into clinical decision-making and developed a more nuanced understanding leadership.

Sherida consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to encourage professional development and career advancement through her unwavering support and guidance. One example of her encouragement occurred when I became a Nurse Educator at CAMH. Despite me not having previous mental health experience, Sherida recognized my strength in education and offered support throughout my preparation journey for working in mental health. She shared resources, recommended materials, provided encouragement that motivated me to expand my knowledge of mental health to leverage my leadership as a Nurse Educator. Additionally, Sherida made time in her business schedule to be present during my final presentation at a symposium for my Masters of Nursing. She shared her belief in my abilities which instilled confidence in me and empowered me to present at the symposium with enthusiasm and determination. Overall Sherida's unwavering encouragement has been instrumental in shaping my professional journey. Her belief in my capabilities and dedication to my success have not only fueled my personal growth but have also inspired me to pay it forward by supporting the development of future nurses.

Sherida epitomizes the essence of an exemplary role model through her availability and effectiveness in guiding others. From the beginning of my placement, Sherida made herself readily available to provide guidance, support, and mentorship whenever needed. Whether it was answering questions, offering advice, or simply lending a compassionate ear, she consistently went above and beyond to ensure that I felt supported and valued. Her willingness to actively engage and share her expertise increased my confidence as a nursing leader and reinforced the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement. As an employee at CAMH, I saw first hand how Sherida leads by example in her professional conduct and dedication to nursing practice and boosting morale for nurses. Her compassionate communication as a director and commitment to collaboratively leveraging nursing practice serve as a source of inspiration for all who have the privilege of working alongside her. Sherida's leadership qualities and dedication to nursing excellence serve as a guiding light for aspiring nurses, fostering a culture of continuous learning and compassion within the healthcare setting.