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Confidence & Connections

Choosing a major. Exploring career paths. Preparing for internships. For many students, the earliest years of college are filled with big decisions — and even bigger questions.

Launched by the Sigmund Weis School of Business in 2022–23, the mentorship program helps guide business students as they inch closer to affirming their academic and career goals. Every sophomore is paired with two to three mentors who offer an uncommon level of personal and professional support. The model fills a gap faculty and staff recognized: first-year business students benefit from the guidance of upper-level student coaches through Global Business Perspectives, and juniors often find clarity through study abroad or internships. Second-year students, Programs Coordinator Kristie Buriak ’99 Anderson explains, deserve their own dedicated layer of support.

“Choosing a career path can feel daunting and overwhelming. Having alumni offer a different perspective gives students confidence to make those big, life-changing decisions.”
 Jay Monahan ’07

“Through the mentorship program, students can ask questions directly of someone working in the career they’re considering — what the role is really about, what the path looks like, what skills matter most,” Anderson says. “And because most mentors are alumni,” she adds, “students also receive advice about classes, majors and minors, and ways to maximize their Susquehanna experience.”

The relationships formed through the program have quickly proven transformative. Students connect with mentors for résumé reviews, interview preparation, job shadowing and discussions about internships and study abroad. They receive introductions to other alumni and industry professionals and, in many cases, those connections lead to concrete opportunities.

Mason Winslow ’26, a business analytics major, says the key to landing his first major internship was his mentor, PwC Pittsburgh office Managing Partner Katie Hawley ’05 Mominee.

“I gained valuable interview skills and great connections with professionals in the field of business,” Winslow says. “After a referral from Katie, I received an interview — and ultimately an offer for a digital assurance and transparency internship at PwC.”

For Hailey Bowden ’25, the mentorship program “highlighted the strength of the Susquehanna network.” The perspective and guidance provided by her mentor, Kelly Jockwer ’16 Gasbarro, contributed to her securing opportunities that aligned with her career goals.

Two people sit at a table reviewing documents together. One person holds a green pen and points to the papers, while the other listens. A closed tablet and a snack on a bench are visible in the background.

“Now, as colleagues at Prudential, we often get lunch together and continue those same conversations about career growth, goals and navigating the workplace,” Bowden says. “Kelly has also connected me with other Susquehanna alumni at Prudential, which has helped me grow my professional network and build meaningful connections across the firm. Having someone who had been in my shoes — and who genuinely wanted to see me succeed — made a big difference.”

Mentors, too, speak passionately about the experience. Jay Monahan ’07, who was paired with management major Erin Kavanaugh ’28, remembers how uncertain early college years can feel — while discovering how fulfilling it is to guide someone through them.

“Choosing a career path can feel daunting and overwhelming,” Monahan acknowledges. “Having alumni offer a different perspective gives students confidence to make those big, life-changing decisions. I’m truly honored to support my mentee through that process. Susquehanna shaped who I am today, so it’s rewarding to give back in this way.”

That sense of shared purpose is reflected across the program, and feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, Anderson notes. Students gain not only practical guidance, but also the self-assurance that comes from being supported by professionals who believe in their potential.

“Ultimately, the power of this program is the relationships,” Anderson adds. “Students build meaningful, lasting networks with people who genuinely want to see them succeed.”

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