Buddy Scheme Mentoring Program

2009 Plan

A pilot program by Women of Warwick

October 2009
What is the Buddy Scheme Program (BSP)

The Buddy Scheme is a networking and mentoring scheme that pairs female WBS
(Warwick Business School) MBA student with a WoW MBA student who is further through
the program (or a recent MBA alumna). Run by WoW MBA alumnae, the program aims
to assist students to develop their skills and balance their work, studying and life priorities
by offering informal and friendly advice.

Students embarking on a new career, moving to a new country, starting a family, or in

need of advice about the study programs, electives and accommodation on campus
can typically benefit from such a relationship.

Core message (Mission statement)

To guide and support WBS MBA students by delivering knowledge expertise about the
WBS MBA. To build empowering and lasting relationships – not contacts.

Target Audience
Protégées: Female WBS MBA students

Mentors: Female WoW MBA students or alumnae

NB: We will try to accommodate student requests from other Warwick post-graduates
programs on a case-by-case basis.

Matching
The goal of the program is to match protégées with mentors on the basis of:

- Study mode (DL, FT, Exec)

- Protégée’s career interest and mentor’s profession/industry
The program coordinator acts as a facilitator for this matching, based on your profile and
goals and eventually suggests a match. Both the protégée and the mentor need to
agree on the match for the mentoring agreement to be sealed.

Feedback

It is recommended that you discuss your progress and learning throughout the duration
of the program with your mentor. You will also be solicited at the end of the program to
provide an overall evaluation. This information will be used to improve the program and
your feedback will remain anonymous if you wish so.

Benefits
The BSP is not a one-way relationship; it is a mutually beneficial agreement between a
protégée and her mentor as experience and knowledge are shared both ways,
benefiting both members of the relationship.

… for protégées

 Personal support through your challenging first year(s) from someone who can
relate to your experience.
 Advice on studying patterns and organizing your schedule.
 Inside information about where to focus on your MBA program (TMAs, Study
Notes, exams etc.)
 Advice on electives and dissertation.
 A friendly chat when times get rough!

… for mentors

 A sense of accomplishment and empowerment

 Passion to help and make a difference in other people’s lives
 Desire to “give back” to the WBS community in a meaningful way
 Fulfill a sense of social responsibility
 Recognition by the WBS MBA community
 Having experienced the benefits of mentoring yourself you’d like to “return the
favor” to someone else
 Program Goals
The overall goal of the program is to help students develop their skills and succeed in
their MBA studies, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Some of the program’s
specific goals are:

Protégées

• To gain valuable insight into the WBS MBA program from a senior member of the
WBS student community.
• To be part of a two-way relationship that will help you boost your self-insight and
autonomy.
• To develop your communication skills and your ability to engage with others in a
confident and frank manner.

Mentors

• To develop mentoring and leadership skills.

• To give something back and make a difference.
• To learn how to effectively pass on your knowledge and experience to others.
• To be confronted with different perspectives and mindsets.

Guiding Principles
1. Participation is voluntary and driven by the student.
2. The relationship lasts for 1 year but can be extended upon agreement by both
parties.
3. The matching of a protégée with a mentor is based on the type of the MBA
program (DL, FT, Exec) and the (current or indented) career interests of the
protégée.
4. The frequency and nature of contact as well as the expectations are discussed
and agreed between the two parties (mentor and protégée) at the beginning of
the relationship.
5. Regular feedback and self-assessment by both parties are strongly encouraged
and help to realign and improve the relationship.
6. The program coordinator should provide facilitation and on-going support to
mentors and protégées, as well as guidance in case the relationship is not
working as agreed.
 Program Schedule
The program runs on a continuous basis, although you may feel you have more to gain if
you join the program early on in your study program.

How To Apply
Students

To apply for the Buddy Scheme Program fill out the BSP Protégée
Application Form and email it to the Program Coordinator Elena Patra.

Mentors

New mentors are always welcome – thank you!

Fill out the BSP Mentor Application Form and email it to the Buddy Scheme
Program Coordinator Elena Patra.

Any Questions?

Email us.

WoW, did you come up with all of this yourself?

www.mentoring.org
www.mentorset.org.uk
www.mbamentoring.org
www.fastcompany.com/magazine/17/womentoring.html?page=0%2C0
www.business.uvic.ca/graduate/features/mentor