November 19, 2024 — The School of Management Mentorship Program is building connections that guide students toward career achievement.

The school’s Advisory Board has launched this year’s Mentorship Program, a growing initiative connecting students with alumni mentors for personalized career support. Since its inception just a few years ago, the program has offered students insights into resume writing, networking, interview skills, and internships.

Students supported by their mentors have successfully secured internships and career opportunities at top companies such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and IBM, underscoring the program’s impact in bridging classroom learning with industry success.

“This program is truly special because it allows us to connect with mentors who have been in our shoes and reached the goals we aspire to,” said student mentee Andrew Dekhtyar '26.

Motivated by the positive experiences shared by upperclassmen last year, Andrew joined the program and quickly saw the advantages his mentor provided.

Andrew Dekhtyar '26, pictured in the Investment Center in Dyson, joined the Mentorship Program to gain valuable insights for a future career in finance. Photo by J. Brendan Madden/Marist College.

“My mentor was a perfect match,” Andrew said. “Through our conversations, I feel like I’ve already improved my interview skills, learned to conduct better research, and gained valuable networking advice.”

This exchange of guidance and encouragement not only benefits mentees but also strengthens the Marist community. Alumni mentor Jana Brzovski '21, a finance and business management associate at JPMorgan, shared her motivation for supporting current students through the program.

Current SOM mentor Jana Brzovski '21 when she was a student at Marist on the NYC student Career Trek at Bloomberg. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist College.

“I love being able to help younger students—particularly young women—navigate the finance world. I feel a duty to pay it forward and give back,” she said. “If it wasn’t for my own alumni mentors and the support from the Marist community, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

[VIDEO watch more about the School of Management’s Mentorship Program]

This year, Information Technology, Alumni Relations, and Career Services teamed up to introduce a new networking platform, The Alumni-Student Network powered by PeopleGrove, to help make these connections more seamless and accessible. The School of Management played an integral role in the development of the platform to help advance their existing mentorship program.  

“Working behind the scenes allows me to ensure students are matched both personally and professionally, giving them a strong foundation with mentors they can truly rely on,” said Michele Williams, Director for Student and Alumni Engagement, who coordinates the mentorship matches.

This year, there are 140 mentees and mentors in the system, fostering meaningful connections that support valuable career development.

On the PeopleGrove platform, mentees outline specific areas of focus such as interview preparation, maximizing their college experience, or transitioning into the workforce.

They’re then paired with mentors who bring expertise in these areas, align with their fields of interest—like marketing or finance—and share common interests or backgrounds. This approach ensures that each mentoring relationship is both impactful and relevant to the students' goals.

Learn more about the Mentorship Program here.