For Mentors
The MentorHub Program seeks to connect qualified Mentors to students that need valuable personal insights, idea feedback and professional perspectives that are so important to their progress and future success. A Mentor can help accelerate learning, venture progress, and skill development; a Mentor can provide specific advice and guidance; and a Mentor can introduce valuable networking connections. Conversely, becoming a Mentor in our MentorHub Program provides experienced professionals with the ability to give back, to stay connected to innovative ideas, to be part of the university ecosystem, and to grow their own network.
We recognize that not all Mentors are able to contribute time equally. Our Program is designed to allow Mentors to determine their own level of interest and commitment, providing for maximum flexibility that can change over time.
Mentorship Levels
- Classroom Guest Speaker: Mentors act as Guest Lecturers or as Class Assistants, providing in-depth training or lessons on specific topics. These are ad-hoc opportunities.
- Competition Judge: Mentors serve as judges at student competitions throughout the year, providing competitors with valuable feedback.
- Event Speaker/Panelist: Mentors present to larger audiences at special events, such as festivals and competitions. There are limited number of these opportunities.
- Matched Mentor: A Mentor is specifically matched with one or more Mentees for a 6 month to one year commitment after an initial one-on-one meeting.
- Entrepreneur in Residence: A specialized, in-house, role with a longer-term commitment. These are typically paid positions that are funded by donors.
Who are our Mentors?
Our Mentors are alumni and friends of Drexel who volunteer their time and expertise to help our Drexel community and their ventures to grow and succeed.
We look for individuals with strong professional backgrounds and experience, backed by good interpersonal skills, who will adhere to the mission and the principles of our program. Our Mentors are founders, chairpersons, CEOs, chief technical officers, chief financial officers, directors, and advisors of successful companies.
The characteristics we value the most in our Mentors are:
- Extensive experience relevant to startups.
- Enthusiasm for the Close School of Entrepreneurship program.
- Active listening skills.
- The ability to communicate meaningful advice.
- The time to participate.
- Respected by their colleagues and other industry professionals.
- A good model for young/early-stage entrepreneurs.
- No personal agenda.
MENTORING POLICY AND PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Whatever your Mentorship Level, here are some key points to remember:
- A Mentor’s advice should always be un-biased with no strings attached.
- Mentors should keep Mentee’s at a healthy arm’s length to guard against any question of conflicts of interest.
- A Mentor should practice confidentiality and discretion.
- Mentors should always act in the Mentee’s best interests and adhere to Drexel University policies and guidelines.
- Balance: our real client and most important relationship is with the individual – we always put the needs of the individual ahead of the needs of the venture.
- A Mentor should be knowledgeable of Drexel resources, including entrepreneurship classes, on-campus workshops, competitions, and other programs designed to educate and support our student entrepreneurs and
- A Mentor should have knowledge of the Close School of Entrepreneurship curriculum to better understand what students are learning in the classroom and which classes students should be taking. Close School Faculty and Staff are always available to aid and answer questions regarding resources and curriculum.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Getting in our database (we use a platform called StartupTree) is the first step as it allows us to more easily find you based on skills and interest.
New Mentors are typically on-boarded once per quarter. Applications received at any time during a term, are considered at the end of the term. Mentors will be notified as to the status of their applications at the start of each new term will be asked to then complete these next steps.