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The MBA Mentoring Program fosters collaborative relationships between students and working professionals. Mentors serve as role models, coaches, and advisors to help students:

• Learn a particular industry and day-to-day responsibilities.
• Understand organizational cultures.
• Define personal and professional goals.
• Develop as leaders in a chosen field.
• Strengthen professional communication and presentation skills.
• Access professional networks and seek networking opportunities.

Mentor roles and responsibilities

Mentors advise and coach mentees on integrating educational and work experiences, networking and career opportunities, and industry knowledge. Mentors strive to:

• Create an open and comfortable environment.
• Communicate clear expectations and listen actively.
• Share personal career experiences of both success and failure.
• Share knowledge about education, specific jobs, career paths, corporate cultures and industries.
• Seek opportunities for mentees to explore.
• Introduce mentees to business associates and facilitate networking.
• Be available to communicate one to two hours per month.

Mentee (student) roles and responsibilities

All MBA students are required to participate in the mentoring program as part of their development as business professionals. Mentees will:

• Initiate communication with mentors one to two hours per month.
• Plan and set the agenda for each meeting.
• Thank mentors for their time.
• Learn about jobs, career paths, corporate cultures and industries.
• Take good career advice.
• Accept feedback with an open mind oriented toward growth.
• Set realistic expectations.
• Explore opportunities presented by mentors.
• Enroll in a non-credit mentoring course during 2 semesters of the MBA program.

Communicating clear expectations

• Clearly communicate expectations in the first or second meeting or phone call, so that each party understands expectations and responsibilities to avoid misunderstandings later on.
• Mentees should say what they would like to gain from the mentorship, and state how the mentor’s help would be most beneficial.
• Mentors should be prepared to respond to mentees about what they can work toward and identify potentially unrealistic expectations.

Setting realistic goals and objectives

• Identify goals and objectives and address whether they are realistic.
• Avoid unrealistic expectations, such as swift advancement, “quick-fixes” on employment issues or immediate integration of new professional skills and ideas.
• Mentors can use their knowledge to help manage the mentee’s expectations of what can be accomplished during the course of the year, and which objectives may take longer to reach.
• If realistic goals and objectives are not agreed upon, please contact the MBA program director to ensure success.