Overview
The MBA Mentoring Program at the Desautels Faculty of Management at 捆绑SM社区 serves to build a strong and vibrant community of professionals engaged with the Faculty in furthering and supporting careers of its MBA graduates. With the support of Career Management, the program allows its students to engage in significant dialogue with mid-high level executives in an effort to lessen the gap between academic learning and favorable shift to the workplace.
Through a combination of networking opportunities, learning events and establishing dedicated, one-on-one mentor relationships, the MBA Mentoring Program strives toward achieving the following objectives:
- Creating networking opportunities for students with successful and influential business professionals.
- Providing an opportunity to learn inside information about a new field, especially for career changers.
- Learning from successful men and women about career management.
- Preparation for job interviews.
One-on-One Relationships
The MBA Mentoring Program offers an exclusive one-on-one mentoring program. This format ensures a personalized dialogue and direct feedback between the mentor and mentee. Mentors also share important insight on business and career-related issues.
Mentor pairs are matched based on both their professional and personal goals. Although most mentors are based out of Montreal, the program has several successful pairings with mentors in Toronto, New York and Paris.
How to apply
The MBA Mentoring Program is available to students entering their second year and Advanced Standing MBA students, both full- and part-time.
Interested students are required to formally apply to the program and provide a written statement describing program expectations and preferences in terms of mentorship, as well as career goals and personal aspirations. Applicants will be matched, to the best of the program's resources, with a suitable mentor.
An information session providing complete details on the program as well as the application process is offered each year.
The application process takes place in February.
Commitment
Participants are required to be committed to the program and to their mentor. Below is a list of some of the program鈥檚 expectations.
- 罢颈尘别:听Participants must commit from May through May. Pairs are expected to set goals for the mentoring relationship that will be achieved together. Pairs should communicate聽at least once a month, face-to-face, over the phone or via e-mail.
- 贰惫别苍迟蝉:听There are typically 3 to 4 formal events planned throughout the year. Attendance is a critical component to the success of the events and all participants are expected to attend聽at least 2 events per year. In order to accommodate everyone鈥檚 schedule, events are held at various times during the day.聽
- Feedback and Continuous Improvement:聽Participants are asked to complete a brief questionnaire twice throughout the year to provide feedback regarding their mentoring relationship and on the program.
Program history
In 2005, the Desautels MBA program celebrated its 40th anniversary. At the ceremony, surrounding this event, a group of female MBA students and alumni discussed the unique challenges and opportunities that executive women face today. Inspired MBA student, Anne Delorme, explored the possibilities of connecting these pioneering career women and alumnae with current MBA students, and thus the MBA Mentoring Program was borne.
Over the past few years, the Desautels Faculty of Management has worked to ensure its programs and initiatives offer the most relevant business education possible, particularly in terms of graduate career support and career preparation. Desautels administration and Career Management have worked in tandem to deliver a successful MBA mentoring program available to all of its MBA students. They have done so by leveraging the Faculty's strengths, connecting with over 40 years of MBA graduates, and drawn from the program鈥檚 significant reputation within the business community.
Each year, fresh new perspectives expressed by both students and mentors allow for the program to evolve. Considering their valuable input, the program is continually adapted to respond participants鈥� needs.
In 2009, the MBA Mentoring Program was extended to male students making the invaluable opportunity to engage with professionals available to all MBA students.
