by Jeff James, Eastern University Program Director
What happens when you trade the traditional guest speaker podium for a brief one-on-one Zoom connection between professional mentor and undergraduate student? At Eastern University, we decided to find out.
Born from the creative minds of our CBL marketing interns—Anisah Smith, Alyssa Caldini, and Andrew Campbell (rightfully dubbed “The A-Team”)—who noted the difficulty in competing for the attention of guest speakers during networking events, the 30-Minute Mentor program was designed to create more meaningful learning and relationship experiences. The premise was simple yet ambitious: pair our Eastern University MBA working professionals with undergraduate students for high-impact, virtual informational interviews.
The results? A powerful testament to the value of multigenerational connection.
The Power of the Match
Our pilot launched with impressive momentum, attracting 56 MBA mentors and 44 undergraduate mentees. Using a touch of AI magic, we matched participants based on job roles, industries, and career aspirations. While the logistical heavy lifting was significant, the appetite for these connections was undeniable—several students even requested multiple meetings to broaden their horizons.
Real Talk, Real Results
For the vast majority of participants, the experience was a resounding success. The MBA mentors reported a deep sense of fulfillment in “paying it forward.” One mentor noted, “Having a similar experience during my undergraduate years would have been invaluable.” Another even mentioned the possibility of offering their mentee an internship; a dream outcome for any career-focused program!
From the undergraduate perspective, the feedback was equally glowing. Students walked away with more than just networking contacts; they gained perspective. One student shared:
“It’s always encouraging to hear about how we don’t always have to have everything planned and decided now… it was also helpful to know what another business professional would’ve done differently.”
Navigating the Growing Pains
As with any pilot, we encountered a few “learning opportunities.” Our biggest concern going in was “ghosting,” and unfortunately, it did manifest; 9 MBA mentors reported a lack of response from their mentees. Additionally, while the matching was largely successful, four students remained unmatched, and a few participants craved even more structure to maximize their 30-minute windows.
The Road Ahead: 30-Minute Mentor 2.0
The A-Team has already been hard at work reviewing the data to ensure next year is even better. Our key takeaways for the future include:
- Academic Integration: By aligning the program with specific courses (like BUSA 140-142), we can provide better accountability and ensure students are fully prepared for their professional interactions.
- Refined Matching: We’re looking into even more robust ways to pair interests, while still embracing the “happy accidents” where students learn from professionals outside their immediate field.
- Professionalism First: We will be doubling down on prep materials to reinforce the importance of follow-up and reliability.
Final Thoughts
A massive thank you to Anisah, Alyssa, and Andrew for not only dreaming up this concept but for executing a complex pilot with such dedication. Because of their vision, Eastern University has a new, scalable model for mentorship that we believe should become a staple of the CBL experience.
The bridge between being a student and being a professional begins with a simple 30-minute commitment, and we can’t wait to see who crosses it next year.
