Mentor s Guide. Mentorship Program Northern Kentucky University

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1 2012 Mentor s Guide Mentorship Program Northern Kentucky University

2 NKU Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business MBA MENTORSHIP Program: Mentor s Guide Reasons for Mentor participation and Guidelines About the Mentorship Program Regional leaders and NKU MBA alumni are invited to participate in the Northern Kentucky University Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business MBA Mentorship program, offering guidance and information to students currently enrolled in the MBA program. Participating mentors come from both private industry and the public sector and are selected with the students needs in mind. The MBA Mentoring Program provides the framework and structure for our students to engage in significant dialogue with high level executives. The NKU MBA Mentorship program is a networking/professional development/career-focused program that will connect NKU MBA students with professionals who will serve as advisors and sharers of their professional experiences, and who also may provide networking opportunities, discuss industry trends, and provide new perspectives and insights into professional specializations and functional areas. Mentors are: Friends in the industry, coaches, advocates & openers of doors Willing to open their networks to students

3 Creators of unique learning opportunities outside of the classroom that offer exposure to the business world Sounding boards and advisors who help students explore possibilities and learn more about their chosen industries, review career paths, and fine-tune their career goals Open to sharing past successes, failures, and insights into lessons learned Supporters and givers of constructive feedback Goals of the Mentorship Program: The goal of the program is to have an experienced professional provide support, encouragement, and guidance to an MBA student. To provide a link between current MBA students and business executives that provides meaningful support to the student and a rewarding relationship for the business executive. To provide a vital link between the department and our regional organizational leaders so the department can obtain stakeholder feedback in efforts leading to continuous improvement of programs. To provide and maintain a positive link between our regional business and government community and the Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business and Northern Kentucky University. To augment classroom learning and provide students with both the education and real world knowledge necessary to succeed in business. To develop collaborative relationships among the MBA program, alumni, students, and the business community.

4 Why be a mentor: To develop a relationship with a student while contributing to his or her professional and personal development. To reflect upon your own career by sharing experience and knowledge with a current student who is interested in your field. To derive personal satisfaction from making a difference in the life of a motivated and ambitious MBA student. To increase the value of an NKU MBA degree by personally investing in future alumni. To personally gain exposure to new ideas and thoughtprovoking questions. To find solutions to organizational problems through student consulting projects and insights. Mentors' Responsibilities: Minimum commitment one full academic year of participation. Be accessible for consultation and meetings (estimated 2 to 3 hours per month). Interaction can happen through telephone, or face-to-face meetings based on mutual convenience. Mentorship program year-end gathering Maximum commitment is unlimited; some mentorship relationships last years. Create an open and comfortable environment. Be an active listener to your student and clearly communicate your expectations of the student.

5 Provide the student opportunities to learn about your business and industry. Provide input into the types of activities within the university and through external trade associations with which the student should become involved. Assist in initiating a process of networking for the student and provide opportunities to meet other professionals and colleagues. Share your knowledge about education, specific jobs, career paths, corporate cultures, and industries. Describe honestly for your student the steps you have taken in your career. What has been successful for you and what would you have done differently? Be aware of opportunities that your student should explore and encourage him / her to explore them. Provide feedback to the NKU MBA Office on the mentorship experience throughout the year. While it is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with you, we encourage you to let us know if you have not heard from him or her. Either party may ask to be re-matched with a new partner if the current partnership is a poor match; however, the students must first discuss this with you prior to concluding the relationship. Preparing for your mentoring role in the relationship: Plan to share your experiences, perspectives, and approaches to developing your career and gaining the skills and qualifications to

6 become successful in your field of work. An exploration of critical incidents in your career can be particularly valuable. Consider sharing some of the key challenges you were confronted with in terms of job search, acquiring and developing your skills, important career decisions, etc.; the options you identified for resolving the problem; your decision-making strategy; the actions you took; the outcomes you obtained; and your analysis of your results. Assist Your Mentees in Clarifying Interests and Needs Your mentee will be asked to identify carefully his/her personal and professional goals for this mentoring relationship before meeting with you. Mentees will be encouraged to consider questions they may have about such areas as job search strategies, industry knowledge, career paths, time management, or balancing work and family life. From their list of questions, they will be encouraged to develop three to five specific goals for their participation in the program. You may wish to review these goals with your mentees. Mentees may have difficulty anticipating the kinds of questions they could be asking, given an opportunity of this kind. Prepare to assist your mentee by giving some advance thought to what your own lessons of experience have taught you. Think about key learning experiences and important insights you have gained. What aspects of the job search were particularly challenging for you? What support were you given that you can now pass on to your mentee? What discoveries did you make on your own, and how can you ease the path for your mentee?

7 MENTORS/MENTEES: Guidelines Mentors and students must commit to one full academic year of participation. The program will seek to match those who share similar backgrounds, geographic location preferences, or career fields. At the end of the year, we will seek feedback from the mentors/mentees regarding their experience with the program. The decision to continue beyond one year must be mutual. Mentors and mentees must commit to communication, via phone, , or face-to-face. While not required, face-to-face meetings are encouraged at least once each semester, if possible. However, consistent communication is key. This is a learning partnership. Mentors and mentees will work together to establish goals for the relationship and to establish frequency, duration, and types of interactions that best meet their needs and schedules. The NKU MBA Program Office will provide support and a point of contact for mentoring partners in need of information or should issues arise. All information shared between mentors and students must be held confidential, unless otherwise noted by mentor or student.