b'RIVERS TO SUCCESSTURNING POINTSW hen I turned 50, I didntsomething more dynamic, more expect to be rewritingflexible, and more culturally respon-my story. sive. It was becoming something that could meet Indigenous learners After more than three decades inwhere they are, on their terms.the fast-paced, high-performance world of the automotive industry,In many ways, my own journey I found myself craving somethingmirrored the programs. We were different, something more mean- both redefining who we were, and ingful. It wasnt burnout. It was awho we could be.By Nikki Cupit deeper realization: I was ready to make a shiftnot just in my career,From Corporate to Communitybut in the kind of legacy I wanted to A new pathleave behind. Before coming to Indspire, I had built my career in the automotive sector: managing teams, executing for me, a newThis personal turning point hasbusiness plans, and meeting closely coincided with another important shiftthis time, atperformance goals. The work was direction forIndspire. The Rivers to Success (R2S)fast-moving and results-oriented, program, which had long providedand I learned how to deliver under Rivers to Success one-to-one mentorship opportuni- pressure. I was good at what I did.ties for Indigenous youth, was also about to undergo a transformation.But as time passed, I felt something What began as a mentorship-basedwas missing. I wanted to apply support system was evolving intomy skills somewhere that aligned 30indspiration2025'