Many FIU Business alumni remember what it was like to be the first in their family to go to college, or feel confused about their career path – and how helpful it was to have guidance from a mentor who knew the ropes and could advise them. That helps explain why, right from the start, the Mentoring Program at the College of Business has enjoyed outstanding success. In the past year, the program grew to 152 students paired with mentors–an increase of an impressive 151 percent.
While the program began with only alumni mentors, it wasn’t long before non-alumni colleagues of mentors wanted to get in on the project. Alumna Francis Hondal (BBA ’87, MBA ’94), executive vice president, Global Consumer Credit and Loyalty Solutions at MasterCard Worldwide, brought colleagues from MasterCard into the program, and MasterCard became the college’s leading corporate provider of mentors. While some mentored face-to-face, others met with their mentees via email, texting and Skype. The flexibility allowed students taking courses online to participate to a similar degree as their on-campus peers.
Alumni contributions have funded the mentoring program, enabling pairs to attend luncheons and networking events together, strengthening their bonds. With an increasingly mobile workforce, the ability to successfully mentor from around the globe is an essential asset. A gift from The Graham Companies by executive vice president and chief financial officer Andre Teixera (BAcc ’92, MAcc ’93) facilitated the purchase of new software that will enable and strengthen mentee-mentor conversations.