ODU College of Business & Public Administration Executive Mentor Program

Transcription

1 ODU Executive Mentor Program

2 Program description Partner high-achieving undergraduate business students with successful executives, entrepreneurs, and public sector leaders. Develop strategies for academic, professional, and social success. Key elements include personal growth, professional networking. 2

3 Primary goal To foster the development of confident graduates with exceptional leadership, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and interpersonal skills. 3

4 Mentor requirements Mentor s available time and students level of need drive the relationship. The ideal mentor has: a desire to positively impact the next generation of leaders an amicable and nurturing personality 4

5 Mentee requirements Declared undergraduate business major Full- or part-time student Cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher Minimum of 2 semesters remaining before graduation 5

6 The process Eligible students invited to complete electronic application Mentors complete electronic questionnaire Preliminary screening Mentors select from three potential mentees Selected students are notified 6

7 Fall 2012, spring mentor/mentee partnerships Ed Amorosso (Accounting major, 4.0 GPA) Deb Butler (Marketing major, 3.5 GPA) Bjoern Fischer (Info Systems major, 3.5 GPA) Steve Fredrickson (MSCM major, 4.0 GPA) Nancy Grden (Management major, 3.7 GPA) Suzy Kelly (Accounting major, 3.9 GPA) Larry Kittleberger (MSCM major, 3.7 GPA) Tim Toll (MSCM/DSCI major, 3.8 GPA) 7

8 Evaluations conducted in spring 2013 Frequency & type of interaction Topics addressed Rewards Challenges Overall experience 8

9 Frequency & type of interaction All local partners have met in-person at least once is primary mode of interaction Distance partners would like in-person meeting, but reported a successful relationship without it 6 of 8 mentors satisfied with level of interaction 2 of 8 mentors want more interaction 6 of 6 mentees satisfied with level of interaction 9

10 Topics addressed Top 3 career, academics, personal Others include: Work environment Mentor s job role Public policy, world topics Leadership 10

11 Rewards for mentors Mentoring someone with interests that match my own Helping develop a young person with leadership aspirations Helping someone orient himself and prepare for the future Learning about life as a student Sharing experiences, providing perspective 11

12 Rewards for mentors Helping the student effectively transition from academia into the business world Mentoring someone who is genuinely interested in my advice and feedback Helping the student find direction, reduce confusion 12

13 A person at this age can become anyone they wish if they set their mind to it. People tend to not think of themselves as a potential top executive, politician, administrator, academic (professor/dean/president of an institution). They tend to be somewhat humble when it comes to themselves and it is nice to help open their eyes to possibilities. 13

14 Rewards for mentees Making a connection with a highly successful person Real advice that applies to today s business world Building a relationship with a knowledgeable, caring person Becoming motivated to apply for jobs Having someone who will answer real-world questions 14

15 Rewards for mentees Having a successful, important person who cares The wealth of knowledge and experience of my mentor Receiving relevant, useful information from someone who has been there 15

16 Challenges/difficulties for mentors Not enough structure, no prescribed meeting schedule Clarifying expectations, identifying the mentee s needs Not being able to meet in person Busy schedules (both mentor and mentee) Mentee already grounded, accomplished Information overload 16

17 Challenges/difficulties for mentees The reality of taking time to focus on my future & career goals stressful to contemplate life plans Not being able to meet in person Busy schedules (both mentor and mentee) Starting the conversation Initiating the first meeting 17

18 Holding my own is the most difficult part of the program. I want to feel like I am bringing as much to the conversation as my mentor does. I should mention that this challenge has been one of the ways in which I have grown the most from this program and it has made me a better communicator at work and in the classroom. 18

19 I found it awkward to meet my mentor for lunch. I was uncomfortable eating a meal in front of a stranger, not to mention the top executive of a very successful firm. On the other hand, it is good to have experiences like that because being challenged often brings about personal growth. 19

20 Overall experience Mentors Rewarding/excellent/promising: 6 Too early to say 2 Mentee view more important 1 Poor/no value - 0 Mentees Rewarding/extremely rewarding 6 No response

21 Suggestions for improvement Planned meeting/luncheon/kick-off event for mentors/mentees (8) Expand the program to masters students (1) More structure, a defined meeting schedule (1) A recommended meeting schedule (1) Training for mentors (1) 21

22 I would recommend advertising the program to all CBPA majors to hopefully inspire them to earn better grades to have an opportunity to participate in this program. 22

23 I made it to the top of corporate America but I had a lot of setbacks along the way. Some of the setbacks were strengthening, but some just wasted my time and energy and an experienced mentor could have kept me from making several of my mistakes. Whatever the comments from other mentors, please do not discontinue this program. 23

24 Lessons Learned Need at least one event for mentors/ mentees as a group The key to success is making the right match Need flexibility but perhaps a bit of structure A beneficial program that must be continued and expanded 24

25 I Begins fall 2013 Implement suggestions for improvement Planned meeting/luncheon/kick-off event for mentors/mentees A recommended meeting schedule (1) Training for mentors (1) Goal - every EAC member is a mentor! Expand to 6 other CBPA advisory councils 25

26 EAC members are mentors, add other CBPA advisory boards 25 new mentees All advisory board members are mentors 50 mentees Add alumni as mentors, continue to refine program 75 mentees All interested eligible students are assigned a mentor 125 mentees Considerations Circumstances prevent advisory board members from being mentors Students who enter as juniors may continue in program Not all eligible students will choose to participate Some mentors may have multiple mentees Additional mentor pools Add MPA and MBA students??

27 Call for volunteers 20 new mentors needed to meet 2013 goal What do you need/want to know? Program materials for review Talk with current mentors 27