This year, the McDonnell Academy Flash Mentoring sessions provided opportunities for engagement through a virtual model. Open to all McDonnell Academy Scholars and our alumni around the world, we hosted two sessions during the fall semester and plan to host more sessions in Spring 2023.
Scholars were able to chat one-on-one with multiple alumni about academics, career experiences, and work/life balance. Representing varied industries and skill sets, including academia, engineering, entrepreneurship, grant writing, social enterprise, science, strategy, and team research, our alumni were able to engage with current Scholars to provide resources and insight.
I think the flash mentoring session is an excellent model to encourage the participation of senior Scholars. I saw the interests and passions of both alumni and Scholars in networking.
Charlie An, PhD McDonnell Scholar in Business Administration, Olin Business School
As the numbers of alumni increases, we continue to organize opportunities for engagement and networking. The McDonnell Academy Mentorship Network has been developed to help foster meaningful relationships among Scholars and our Alumni.
McDonnell Academy Alumni and Scholars weigh in on the most valuable aspects of the session:
… learning about alumni experiences during and after WashU and meeting alumni with a shared experience that said McDonnell Academy added value.
The McDonnell Academy anticipates participation in future virtual events to connect alumni with current Scholars. Our previous engagement initiative included McDonnell Academy Alumni leading Virtual Career Panels by discussing insights on career development, emerging trends, and the impact of the McDonnell Academy after WashU.