ARMY INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

KOLKATA – 27

Introducing
Alumni Mentor Program (AMP)

Prepared By: Narendra Kumar Singh (MBA 9)

Contact Person:
Email:
Phone:

Structure: Mentor Program Steering Committee

Coordinator (May be an Alumni or faculty)
Member1: Faculty
Member2: Alumni
Member3 Alumni
Member4 Student
Guest Members: Best secondary and primary mentors of previous year

Objectives of AMP
• To provide current MBA students a mentor within the students’ field of work interest.

• To provide students with a mechanism for developing and enhancing their networking
and organizational skills.

• To recognize students’ ability to form multiple points of contact.

• To serve as a tool that will help increase alumni involvement with the Army Institute of
Management, Kolkata.

• To increase the visibility of the AIMK in the media and corporate.

 Benefits of the AMP
Alumni
• A way to contribute time and resources.
• Personally contribute to the prestige of the institute and benefit institute's
credentials.
• Opportunity to help students and alma mater.

Institute
• Added value to the academic programs.
• Involves current students in the corporate interaction.
• Engages alumni in valuable interaction.

Students
• Additional resource for career advice and industry information.
• Develop network for contacts in future employment and business activities.
• Opportunity to attend and participate in AIMK sponsored activities and network
with other students, alumni (from other B Schools) and corporate partners.

Alumni Mentor Program Cluster (General Structure)

Secondary
Cluster Mentors

Primary Primary Primary Primary

Mentor Mentor Mentor Mentor

Student Student Student Student

 Mentor Program Structure
First Tier: Secondary Cluster Mentors
• The tip of the pyramid consists of all of the cluster mentors with many years of
collective work experience in a particular field or concentration.

• Combined, all mentors have significant leadership and career experience.

• In respect to busy schedules, a limited number of planned events will be scheduled

during the academic year. (Please see schedule)

• During Alumni Mentor Week, Secondary Cluster Mentors are encouraged to host
open invitations to AMP participants to discuss his or her industry. These meetings
can be held at the mentor’s office, or arrangements can be made to hold the
meetings at the AIMK Campus.

Second Tier: Primary Mentors

• The primary mentor’s role includes working one-on-one with a student within their
cluster.

• The profile of a primary mentor is varied and represents those in mid-level positions
as well as those with significant leadership and career experience.

• Although a primary mentor will be assigned to a one-on-one relationship with a

student, support within clusters among both mentors and students is encouraged.

• A primary mentor can help a student in a variety of aspects, including: opportunities

for informal Q&A sessions (interviews), offer a safe environment to practice skills,
suggest networking leads, exchange of industry information, discuss course selections
(major/minor), and provide job search advice.

Third Tier: Students

• We anticipate approximately 120 students participate in 2007 before start of their
final placements in October/November 2007.

• Student will develop professional relationships and learn the importance of

networking.

• One 2nd year student will be selected in each cluster to serve as a cluster
coordinator. (If there are no 2nd year students in a cluster, a 1st year student will be
selected.) This is a great leadership position. The cluster coordinator will serve as
the liaison between the cluster and the Mentor Program Committee. In addition,
each cluster coordinator will work with the students and mentors in their cluster to
coordinate events and activities for Alumni Mentor Weeks.
 Activities of AMP
Formation of clusters by second year students as soon as new batch joins the institute

• Day 1 Kick-off Reception, Nostalgia (Every year probably September)

Meet and greet students and mentors in your cluster.
Select your cluster coordinator (2nd year students).
He/she will serve as the point-of-contact and liaison to the Mentor Program
Committee.
Network with other participants

• Cluster Coordinator Meeting, Early October (Two weeks after Day1)

Plan for Alumni Mentor Week.

• First Mentor/Student Meeting - Late October/Early November (5 weeks

after Day1)
Mentors meet with your students to:
Explore options
Exchange industry information
Give and receive networking leads
Provide open-ended, informal Q&A sessions
Students make contact with your mentors to:
Discuss general questions and/or discuss topics pertinent to class year
1st year – Internships
2nd year - Final Placements
• Happy Hour Event (Before starting of final placement)
Relax and enjoy an informal networking event
• Individual Meetings with Primary Mentors
Individual meeting focusing on Internship/Job Search
Primary mentors and students meet to discuss respective 1st or 2nd year
curriculum – Suggestion of activities include:
Job shadowing/informal interviewing at primary mentor’s firm

• Alumni Mentor Week (February) Before starting summer placements

Each cluster coordinator works with their cluster to host a cluster activity. These
activities will be in a variety of settings and represent multiple interests over the span
of one week. Alumni Mentor Week provides opportunities to explore specific
topics, network and video-conference with out-of-state mentors with compatible
equipment and protocols.

• April End/May start – Before starting SIP (Regarding project)

An event to discuss issues with the project in summer training like what kind of
projects to work on, resources for projects, etc.
 • July First week
An event to celebrate the success of the AMP as well as recognize outstanding
achievement in the categories of Secondary Mentor of the Year, Primary Mentor of
the Year, Cluster of the Year and Cluster Coordinator of the Year.

In addition, Secondary and Primary Mentor of the Year recipients will be invited to
sit on the Alumni Mentor Steering Committee, for a one-year term, beginning the
next academic year on the day of Alumni meet (Nostalgia).

General Expectations
• Your student(s) will expect return phone calls and or e-mails from you during the
academic year.

• Your primary mentor will expect phone calls and e-mails from you during the
academic year.

• The members of your cluster expect you to be explicit about your own needs and
limitations. Offer the cluster your preferred work/communication style.

• The members of your cluster will expect to meet you face-to-face at least twice
during the academic year.

• Your cluster will expect you to attend an industry networking event in a year.

• The cluster coordinator expects you to respond to e-mails and or phone call inquiries
when he or she is planning activities for your cluster.

Students Expectations
You are expected to:

• Make the initial contact with your mentors. Call and or e-mail them with your
contact information, resume/CV.

• Provide energy and support for your cluster.

• Work with your cluster coordinator to plan events/activities. Take initiative, you get
out of the program what you put into it.

• Be considerate of mentors’ time. Return phone calls and emails promptly and be on
time.

• Be creative about contacting your out-of-town mentor.

• Seriously consider all advice you receive.

• Show evidence that you have utilized the help. Even if you choose a different
alternative, point out how you used the help to make your choice.

• Show appreciation for every form of assistance your mentors give you.

• Make it easy for your mentors to give you constructive feedback. Ask for it early and
often.

• Assume the relationship will be strictly professional. Let your mentors take the lead
in making the relationship more personal.

• Make only positive or neutral comments about your mentor to others. Do contact
your cluster coordinator if you are having problems.