Iowa Ledger (2022) - Tippie College of Business

Used by companies like Microsoft, Zillow,
and Coinbase to foster mentoring cultures,
the Tribute app operates like a dating
app, except it’s used for mentorship. It is
designed so that both mentors and mentees
set up individual profiles, and the user can
choose from a large menu of attributes to
find a good fit.
Tippie Accounting is the first alumni/
student use for Tribute, but the app’s
flexibility is perfect for the “at the moment”
kinds of mentoring students need: How
do I make a good impression in my first
interview? Move from a small town to a
big city? Find other first-generation users
who can advise how to navigate the job
market? Find an LGBTQ+ friendly employer?
Perhaps they are currently studying for/
taking the CPA exam or navigating worklife
balance. The app also provides a filter
where a student can, for instance, check a
specific box for the kind of work they hope
to find, such as within the fields of data
privacy and security, asset management, or
audit and insurance. The initial mentoring
relationship is short—just 30 days—a
time limit which can be extended if both
users agree. While it allows for a genuine
connection to grow, the default 30 days
encourages students to build a wider
professional network.
Casey Daniel, a third-year accounting
student, says the app allowed him to
connect with recent graduates who
could advise him on classes to take or
when and where to get that first internship.
“I’m the first one in my family to study
business,” says the Iowa City native, who
was president of the Tippie Accounting
Society his first year. “It’s not like I can ask
my parents. At first, I had no clue where I
wanted to go with accounting, so I took my
questions to the Tribute app. It was much
cooler than I expected. Now if I have a
question, they tell me, ‘Yeah, just shoot me
a text!’”
Daniel recalls one week, Tippie sponsored a
“Meet the Firms” night. “Even though I was
afraid they’d be dumb questions, I texted
my app mentor to see what I should ask
the recruiters and to get some confidence.”
Thanks in part to that mentorship, Daniel is
happy to report he got an interview with a
recruiter he liked and secured an internship.
“My app mentors helped me learn that
accounting is not one-dimensional. And
having someone to text who knows
what they’re talking about has been super
valuable.”
Mentors report the experience with the
Tribute app has been gratifying as well.
Joe Daniel (BBA14/MAc15)—no relation
to Casey—moved to Chicago, Ill., after
graduation and spent four years in the
audit practice at Deloitte. He’s currently
a manager at The Siegfried Group, also in
Chicago, Ill. “It really is such a rewarding
experience to give back to the current
students—especially those who reach
out,” he says. “Being on the mentor side of
it, I feel a sense of responsibility to those
students who are willing to put in the effort.”
Daniel says his commitment per student is
minimal: typically, a few texts or calls each
month. “It’s not overly time consuming,”
he says. “All you’re doing is sharing your
experience and advice. You don’t need to
do any extra work to prepare. There’s really
no downside. It’s just a great opportunity to
help the next generation.” •
24 IOWA LEDGER 2022