Mentor's Guide - Haile/US Bank College of Business - Northern ...

Mentor’s Guide 2012NKU Haile/U.S. Bank College of Business MBAMENTORSHIP Program:Mentor’s GuideReasons for Mentor participation and GuidelinesAbout the Mentorship ProgramRegional leaders and NKU MBA alumni are invited to participate inthe Northern Kentucky University Haile/U.S. Bank College ofBusiness MBA Mentorship program, offering guidance andinformation to students currently enrolled in the MBA program.Participating mentors come from both private industry and thepublic sector and are selected with the students’ needs in mind. TheMBA Mentoring Program provides the framework and structure forour students to engage in significant dialogue with high levelexecutives.The NKU MBA Mentorship program is a networking/professionaldevelopment/career-focused program that will connect NKU MBAstudents with professionals who will serve as advisors and sharersof their professional experiences, and who also may providenetworking opportunities, discuss industry trends, and provide newperspectives and insights into professional specializations andfunctional areas.Mentors are: Friends in the industry, coaches, advocates & openers of doors Willing to open their networks to students

Mentor’s Guide 2012 Creators of unique learning opportunities outside of theclassroom that offer exposure to the business world Sounding boards and advisors who help students explorepossibilities and learn more about their chosen industries,review career paths, and fine-tune their career goals Open to sharing past successes, failures, and insights intolessons learned Supporters and givers of constructive feedbackGoals of the Mentorship Program: The goal of the program is to have an experienced professionalprovide support, encouragement, and guidance to an MBAstudent. To provide a link between current MBA students and businessexecutives that provides meaningful support to the studentand a rewarding relationship for the business executive. To provide a vital link between the department and ourregional organizational leaders so the department can obtainstakeholder feedback in efforts leading to continuousimprovement of programs. To provide and maintain a positive link between our regionalbusiness and government community and the Haile/U.S. BankCollege of Business and Northern Kentucky University. To augment classroom learning and provide students withboth the education and real world knowledge necessary tosucceed in business. To develop collaborative relationships among the MBAprogram, alumni, students, and the business community.

Mentor’s Guide 2012Why be a mentor: To develop a relationship with a student while contributing tohis or her professional and personal development. To reflect upon your own career by sharing experience andknowledge with a current student who is interested in yourfield. To derive personal satisfaction from making a difference in thelife of a motivated and ambitious MBA student. To increase the value of an NKU MBA degree by personallyinvesting in future alumni. To personally gain exposure to new ideas and thoughtprovokingquestions. To find solutions to organizational problems through studentconsulting projects and insights.Mentors' Responsibilities:Minimum commitment – one full academic year ofparticipation. Be accessible for consultation and meetings (estimated 2 to 3hours per month). Interaction can happen through telephone,email or face-to-face meetings based on mutual convenience. Mentorship program year-end gathering Maximum commitment is unlimited; some mentorshiprelationships last years. Create an open and comfortable environment. Be an active listener to your student and clearly communicateyour expectations of the student.

Mentor’s Guide 2012 Provide the student opportunities to learn about your businessand industry. Provide input into the types of activities within the universityand through external trade associations with which thestudent should become involved. Assist in initiating a process of networking for the student andprovide opportunities to meet other professionals andcolleagues. Share your knowledge about education, specific jobs, careerpaths, corporate cultures, and industries. Describe honestly for your student the steps you have taken inyour career. What has been successful for you and what wouldyou have done differently? Be aware of opportunities that your student should exploreand encourage him / her to explore them. Provide feedback to the NKU MBA Office on the mentorshipexperience throughout the year. While it is the student's responsibility to initiate contact withyou, we encourage you to let us know if you have not heardfrom him or her. Either party may ask to be re-matched with a new partner ifthe current partnership is a poor match; however, the studentsmust first discuss this with you prior to concluding therelationship.Preparing for your mentoring role in the relationship:Plan to share your experiences, perspectives, and approaches todeveloping your career and gaining the skills and qualifications to

Mentor’s Guide 2012become successful in your field of work. An exploration of criticalincidents in your career can be particularly valuable. Considersharing some of the key challenges you were confronted with interms of job search, acquiring and developing your skills, importantcareer decisions, etc.; the options you identified for resolving theproblem; your decision-making strategy; the actions you took; theoutcomes you obtained; and your analysis of your results.Assist Your Mentees in Clarifying Interests and NeedsYour mentee will be asked to identify carefully his/her personal andprofessional goals for this mentoring relationship before meetingwith you. Mentees will be encouraged to consider questions theymay have about such areas as job search strategies, industryknowledge, career paths, time management, or balancing work andfamily life. From their list of questions, they will be encouraged todevelop three to five specific goals for their participation in theprogram. You may wish to review these goals with your mentees.Mentees may have difficulty anticipating the kinds of questions theycould be asking, given an opportunity of this kind. Prepare to assistyour mentee by giving some advance thought to what your ownlessons of experience have taught you. Think about key learningexperiences and important insights you have gained. What aspectsof the job search were particularly challenging for you? Whatsupport were you given that you can now pass on to your mentee?What discoveries did you make on your own, and how can you easethe path for your mentee?

Mentor’s Guide 2012MENTORS/MENTEES: GuidelinesMentors and students must commit to one full academic yearof participation. The program will seek to match those who sharesimilar backgrounds, geographic location preferences, or careerfields. At the end of the year, we will seek feedback from thementors/mentees regarding their experience with the program. Thedecision to continue beyond one year must be mutual. Mentors and mentees must commit to communication, viaphone, email, or face-to-face. While not required, face-to-facemeetings are encouraged at least once each semester, ifpossible. However, consistent communication is key. This is a learning partnership. Mentors and mentees will worktogether to establish goals for the relationship and to establishfrequency, duration, and types of interactions that best meettheir needs and schedules. The NKU MBA Program Office will provide support and a pointof contact for mentoring partners in need of information orshould issues arise. All information shared between mentors and students must beheld confidential, unless otherwise noted by mentor or student.