Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Newsletter November 2015 Mentor relationships already netting significant results for mentees Just more than one month into the 2015-16 Marquette University Alumni Association Mentor Program, many mentees have already shared the benefits of working with their mentors. Eli Elizondo, Comm ’16, is mentored by Joel Andryc, Sp ’79 and managing director at Saban Capital Group. He traveled from Los Angeles to campus for the kick-off. “(Our meeting) went great and I am really excited about the program,” Eli says. “I can already feel the senior year pressures melting away.” Corbin Dewey, Eng ’18, credits mentor Bill Krueger, Eng ’87 and Americas chairman at JATCO USA, Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., for suggesting a program goal he never considered. “Thanks to Bill, we added exploring a MBA to our goals,” Corbin says. Other students also took advantage of fall break to shadow their mentors. Marilynn Gardner, Jour ’88 and president and CEO of Chicago’s Navy Pier Inc., hosted mentee Abby Cole, Comm ’16.  “Meeting with Marilynn and her Navy Pier staff was remarkable in many ways,” Abby says. “I learned about their roles, got a great tour of this Chicago landmark and, thanks to Marilynn, I’m getting an opportunity to gain PR and event experience by helping with their upcoming Winter WonderFest.” Tips for a successful relationship Whether you’re a new or seasoned mentor program participant, consider these keys to maximize your relationship: Book it. Schedule meetings, extended conversations, job shadowing and other business well in advance of the actual dates. If you’re considering a job shadow opportunity during holiday break, it's time to discuss and begin planning for it (finals begin Dec. 14). Set an agenda in advance of each meeting. Meeting agendas help identify key objectives to be accomplished and help prepare the mentor and mentee for the discussion. Identify action items. Outlining next steps at the conclusion of each converation clarifies roles, helps avoid miscommunication and can assist in creating the next meeting agenda. Prompt replies go a long way. If you're contacted by your mentor or mentee, replying within one day, when possible, is common courtesy (even if it's a short message). Goal check. Regularly review the goal document you created and agreed upon. Are you on track to complete the goals? Should goal adjustments be made in light of a new career interest or an emerging priority? The document serves as a guide and can be changed, if necessary.    Mentors and mentees see benefits in best practices sessions Approximately 40 mentors and mentees recently participated in best practices sessions to share their experiences, learn from one another and ask questions in preparation for the months ahead. Alumni mentors from nearly 10 states participated in this week's conference call while approximately 20 student mentees met on campus in separate sessions. “The call with other mentors was a wonderful opportunity to hear about everyone’s experiences over the past few weeks,” says Justine Sinkus, Arts '05, who is mentoring Mike Boyles, Bus Ad '16.  Five Questions With...Maura Devine, Arts '92 (Claire Nowak, Comm '16, mentee) 1. Why are you serving in the MUAA Mentor Program?    I really want to see what it is like to be on campus now. I love knowing what classes students are taking, what they do on the weekends and what they love about MU. I also want to ease students' fears about figuring out what to “be” when they grow up. 2. What suggestions do you have for mentees?   Take advantage of all the opportunities Marquette has - do internships, go to Mass, talk to teachers, travel with your friends.  What qualities do you look for and appreciate in the people you work with or hire?   Being able to communicate clearly under deadline. Wanting to work very hard. Being curious. Reading like crazy. Read Maura’s full interview. Save the date for mentor program social, networking event prior to men's baskeball game Save the date for Jan. 16 as all MUAA Mentor Program participants- current and past- are invited to a social gathering prior to the Xavier at Marquette men's basketball game, which tips off at 1 p.m. CT. Stay tuned for details. MUAA Mentor Program Where Are They Now? Two years later, mentor and alumna mentee meet for first time- in California Mentor Meghan Arnold, Comm '02, and her now alumna mentee Anna Ogunkunle, Comm '15, are shining examples of maintaining communication beyond their formal mentor program participation. Since being paired in the 2013-14 MUAA Mentor Pilot Program when Anna was a senior, she and Meghan kept in touch after their formal mentorship concluded. It's particularly impressive considering they have been hundreds- and at times, thousands- of miles from each other. Anna is from Milwaukee and studied in Spain while Meghan lives in San Francisco. They recently met for the first time in Los Angeles when Meghan was visiting and Anna began graduate school at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Along with Anna's new beginning at USC, Meghan recently transitioned to a new job. “You can't put a timestamp on a mentoring relationship. If there's a strong connection, I want the students I mentor to be able to know that they can rely on me for life, just like I have leveraged my own relationship with my informal mentors,” Meghan says. “Plus, if I've done my job well to help them on the road to success, I'll tell them to remember me when they're rich and famous.” MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox offers relevant mentor, career resources From mentor and mentee icebreaker questions to timely and trending mentor and professional development articles like the following, visit the MUAA Mentor Program Toolbox at go.mu.edu/mentors. 7 traits of great mentors, Fast Company 13 habits of exceptionally likeable people, Forbes Mentor program questions or comments? Contact MUAA Mentor Program director Dan DeWeerdt at daniel.deweerdt@marquette.edu or (414) 288-4740.