You need to care about what’s happening around you and to the people around you.
— Shay Mathews
When Shay Mathews first arrived at Humber, she wasn’t sure where she belonged.
She was balancing life as a single mother, working multiple jobs, and questioning if she was even in the right program. At the time, law wasn’t part of a clear plan. She was simply trying to build a better future for herself and her daughter.
Today, Shay’s journey has taken her from IGNITE’s Board of Directors and vice president role to leading operations for Lululemon and still continuing to create impact for student years later.
And according to Shay, it all started with one simple decision: getting involved.
Finding purpose with advocacy
Before joining IGNITE, Shay describes herself as a student searching for direction.
“I was struggling,” she recalled. “I didn’t know where I like, did I make the right decision in going to the paralegal program? Where do I fit? Like, where do I see myself?”
Shay Mathews was deeply involved in campus life. She started as a student ambassador at Humber, where she helped students feel welcomed and connected to the community. That experience sparked her passion for supporting students and creating an impact on campus.
And when she saw the opportunity to join IGNITE, she decided to take a chance and put her name forward.
Shay joined as vice president of North in 2019 and then IGNITE’s Board of Directors for 2021-2022. Working behind the scenes on student issues exposed her to the policies, systems and processes that shape student life.
“I wanted to make change,” she said. “And for me to make change, I needed to know the policies. I need to know the regulations. I need to know the compliance.”
It was through the experience of getting educated with background stories, the education and the resources that correlated with advocating for students that Shay realized law was the path she wanted to pursue.
“IGNITE literally ignited the fuel I needed to figure out what I wanted to do.”
Creating space for students
One of Shay’s most lasting contributions was launching Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber’s first Black Excellence Conference.
The idea came from student feedback and conversations showing that many Black students felt unseen and unheard on campus. And one thing remained a priority— Shay wanted students to hear from people whose journeys reflected their own experiences instead of the executives.
“As a woman of colour, not all of us come from generational wealth,” she explained. “I wanted students to hear from people who built something for themselves.”
The conference eventually inspired the creation of IGNITE’s Black Excellence Scholarship, which continues to support students today. And during the March Board of Directors meeting held on March 10, 2021, IGNITE decided to take the BlackNorth Initiative Pledge and become the first student-focused organization to join the initiative.
For Shay, seeing that scholarship continue has become one of her proudest accomplishments.
“It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever been a part of.”
Balancing priorities
Throughout her time at Humber, Shay had a lot more on her plate than classes and student leadership. She worked two full-time jobs, a part-time bartending job, served in student leadership positions, and raised her daughter as a single mother.
So how did she manage the workload this intense?
Shay credits the campus resources and support systems for helping her succeed. She regularly accessed counselling services, prioritized her health and leaned on her friends when she could. She believes many students underestimate how important it is to ask for help when they need it.
Her advice to student parents and anyone facing a difficult situation is simple:
“Believe in yourself. It’s going to be hard. You’re going to cry. But you can do it.”
Leadership through listening
Today, Shay leads operations for one of Lululemon’s flagship stores while managing large-scale events, compliance processes and a team of more than 50 employees.
But the leadership lessons she values most come from listening.
Throughout the interview, Shay repeatedly returned to the importance of curiosity, empathy and truly understanding people’s experiences before making decisions.
“Before reacting, I’m always curious,” she said. “I want to know all the things before I make a decision.”
That people-first mindset was shaped by mentors at IGNITE, particularly Ercole D. Perrone and Kristine Galvan, who challenged her to think deeper about how decisions affect students.
A legacy
When asked what she hopes people remember about her time at IGNITE, Shay didn’t mention positions, awards, or accomplishments. Instead, she spoke about creating opportunities for others.
She hopes future students continue benefiting from initiatives like the Black Excellence Scholarship and that her daughter one day sees the impact she worked to create.
“If my daughter chooses to come to Humber, I hope she can be proud and say, ‘That was my mom.'”
For Shay, leadership was never about holding a title.
“The title you hold does not matter,” she said. “How you hold yourself matters.”
And years after her time at IGNITE, that message continues to leave an impact.
Words to students
When asked for advice for students seeking to make an impact on campus life but unsure where to start, Shay’s words were simple yet impactful.
“Even if you think it’s small [issues] and it bothers you, it’s bothering somebody else,” she advised. “So go out, ask questions. If you are a leader, a leader seeks.”
The best way to hear the real problems is to put yourself in places and situations where people can communicate with you. As a student, it is easy to forget that you can understand another student’s concerns better than anyone else. But once you remember, you can know that impact is in your hands.
Feature photo courtesy of IGNITE
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