When Eric Moquin, Senior Director of Provincial Distribution and Warehousing, signed up for Sleeman Breweries’ mentorship program, he saw it as a chance to give back.

After eight years with Sleeman, Eric had gained valuable experience and wanted to share what he had learned while gaining a fresh perspective on another area of the business.

Sleeman offers its mentorship program on an annual cycle, pairing mentors and mentees based on interests and communication styles. The program offers three distinct streams: functional, leadership, and women in leadership. Pairs meet at least once per month from October through May and follow a guidebook to help support their work together. Mentees set development goals and share them with their mentors, helping the pair stay accountable to each other. 

Eric was paired with Rock Houde, a bilingual Customer Service Representative whose day-to-day responsibilities looked very different from his own. But as their conversations began, they quickly discovered that their work was more connected than they had realized.

"Being paired with someone who had more experience and a different background gave me so much to learn from — it made me appreciate being part of this team even more,” says Rock.

Through regular discussions, they explored operational challenges, product quality, and the role collaboration plays in delivering a great customer experience. Along the way, the pair gained a deeper understanding of each other’s roles and how their teams work together behind the scenes to support customers.

What started as a mentorship pairing soon became a rewarding exchange of ideas, experiences, and perspectives.

For Eric, one of the most impactful aspects of the experience was developing a stronger connection with a colleague.

"It was a great opportunity to better understand Rock and his challenges and to be able to help solve real problems together," he shares.

For Rock, the experience offered a new perspective on the business as a whole.

"This experience really helped me see the bigger picture; it takes a whole team to bring great products and service to consumers," says Rock. 

Eric and Rock’s experience is one of many great examples of what makes the Sleeman Breweries Mentorship Program so valuable. By bringing employees together across roles and departments, the program creates opportunities to build relationships, share knowledge, and learn from one another, helping our people get better together.