Women of Walker and Watauga Women in Leadership successfully completed the second annual WWIL Mentor Program with 26 female business students and 27 female business leaders from the Boone community
The program was launched in 2023 resulting in overwhelmingly positive feedback from mentors and mentees There was still a lot to learn from the pilot program year Feedback received from all stakeholders was used to finetune to provide an optimal experience for current and future female business leaders
In this report you will find the amazing additions that were added to the program including a Job Shadow Day where App State students were exposed to 24 companies within the Boone community Visits included company tours, hands on learning, interactions with customers and team members These interactions provided an experiential education and a pipeline to the amazing work our community members are executing on a daily basis
The goal of the WWIL Mentor Program is to be the catalyst for positive economic impact for the High Country and a robust learning experience for all I hope you enjoy learning from this report what the great women of our community are doing to send the elevator back down to the next generation.
AMY H ODOM
The mentor program is an initiative led by Watauga Women in Leadership in partnership with Women of Walker, an experiential professional development program for female business majors at Appalachian State University. The program provides one-on-one mentoring opportunities between WWIL affiliates and female business students in order to motivate, empower and encourage both mentors and mentees in the local community.
WWIL empowers High Country women in business and leadership in all stages of their careers. The organization presents events that support women through networking and educational speakers. The marriage of WWIL and WOW provides valuable professional development and networking opportunities for current students while enabling female professionals a space to develop their own networks while giving back.
The mission of WWIL and WOW parallel one another, striving for similar personal and professional outcomes Aligning the efforts of both organizations, creates a synergy among leaders that benefits the local community and future female business leaders 2024 marked the second annual program for the Watauga Women in Leadership Mentor Program with 53 participants
The program is designed to meet during the spring semester of each academic year from January to May Interactions are comprised of at least five group meetings In addition mentors and mentees are expected to meet as a pair one to two times a month in addition to group activities
Training is provided to all mentors prior to the start of the program to prepare mentors to deliver the best experience to their mentees Mentors and mentees are provided expectations, develop goals together and sign an agreement that outlines their commitment to the program and each other
Training is provided to all mentors prior to initial interaction with mentees The training provides expectations of the mentor role and ways to successfully engage the mentee in the program
Mentors and mentees will be required to meet one to two times a month throughout the program Interactions will provide opportunity for mentors and mentees to build relationships and rapport with one another outside of a large group setting
An emphasis on community and relationship building will be incorporated throughout the program. A kick off event will take place at the beginning of the program so pairs can meet, interact and build rapport before meeting one-on-one.
Student mentees will be invited to participate in all Watauga Women in Leadership events to provide exposure to professional development opportunities and networking. An end of program networking event will be held so pairs can come together to reflect on their experiences and practice important networking skills with their peers
Serving the larger community creates self-awareness of an individual’s impact on the bigger picture and fosters an appreciation of the community surrounding them Watauga Women in Leadership and Women of Walker will collaborate on a minimum of one group volunteer event/project designated by WWIL each program year
Provide exposure to local business owners, community leaders and potential economic development opportunities to retain top talent to reside and work in Watauga County post graduation.
54
The mentor program is comprised of 26 business students and 27 female professionals from the High Country
1078
Number of programmatic hours that included one-on-one mentoring sessions and group interactions over the course of five months
$100
Cost per person to execute the program for 53 people. Sponsor and donor support covered all programmatic costs for both mentors and mentees
34%
Ethnic diversity represented among both mentors and mentees spanning Hispanic, Asian, African American and White
KEYNOTE: JAIME KRAVITZ
‘10 App State alumna and CEO of the Energy Producer led a high energy workshop on the value of networking. The hands-on session included the story of her journey and a role play exercise that got everyone on their feet and connecting with mentors and mentees in the room A delicous lunch was served to fuel the group for a full day of job shadowing that immediately followed
Women of Walker students joined their mentors for the day for a full immersion of job shadowing across the High Country. Students spent the day touring local companies, meeting with team members and experiencing a “day in the life” of their mentors within their workplace. At least two students have solidified summer internships based on relationships they formed in the program
Mentors completed an in depth registration process to gather important data to help match mentors and mentees for an optimal experience for both participants
Mentors provided their educational backgrounds, past and current career paths and personal interests to ensure professional exploration and experiences aligned
Over 70% of business graduates remain in North Carolina after graduation However a very small percentage are able to remain in Western North Carolina Proper matching could positively impact both local internship and full time placement
828 Real Estate
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System
Appalachian State University
Blackburn, Childers & Stegall PLC
Blue Ridge Conservancy
Canvas Beauty Bar
CS Smith Management
Chick-fil-A Boone
Dogwood Primary Care
ECRS
First Horizon Bank
Go Postal
Horton Hotel
Hunger and Health Coalition
Jackson Sumner & Associates
Lazarus Design Team
LifeStore Bank
Mast General Store
Optum
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Savored Moments Travel
Town of Boone
Truist Bank
Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
A wide variety of local companies and large corporations were represented for students to explore and connect with during the program:
It is wonderful to share the mentoring experience with other professionals in the Boone area The social time is positive for both the Mentee and Mentors I feel like I have grown as a professional because it allows me to offer assistance in ways I would not other be engaged in The interactions create a bond and offer room for future growth and interactions
Judy Current, The LifeStore Bank
"At the end of this semester, my mentee expressed to me repeatedly how much she learned from me and grew in this program this year This truly humbled me, because as a new mentor I had no idea what impact (if any) I would have on a student studying within my similar field This program showed me how I could provide insight to a young student that was applicable in all areas of job skills, conduct in the workplace, and even touch on what to wear, etc I am so grateful for this opportunity because this experience taught me that not only do the mentees reap the benefits of wisdom from women currently in the workplace, but that the mentors simultaneously learn a lot from the mentees as well Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this life-changing experience!"
Elizabeth Banks, Jackson Sumner & Associates
"To me it was an opportunity to educate my mentee about the resources available to them in our community, what makes us so special and the opportunities for them to be impactful For me one of the most impactful conversations we had was during a one and a half hour lunch we had a F A R M Cafe It was a casual conversation that covered so many topics, there was a discussion about women's health, the importance of being yourself and understanding the beauty of mistakes, we talked about what to do and not do on social media, highlighted the importance of networking even when you are "peopled-out " I left that lunch feeling more in touch with the other mentors as well as with my mentee! I also loved the formal events and was so grateful for the thought that went into planning those! Thank you all for such a meaningful program!
LaneMoody, Town of Boone
"Watauga Women in Leadership is designed to empower High Country women in business and leadership in all stages of their careers The organization presents events that support women through networking and educational speakers. The organization enables business growth, support and mentoring opportunities among professional women in the High Country Leadership is comprised of a five person board who develop the strategy and execute the mission of the organization to the female professionals across the High Country
Contact: (828) 264-2225 www.boonechamber.com/watauga-women-in-leadership
Business Career Services exists to prepare future leaders through transformational career education and professional development We aspire to guide students to have access to and leverage the tools and resources they need and are equipped and empowered to independently seek future opportunities and work that is fulfilling Business Career Services is a decentralized career services housed in the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University
Contact: 828-262-8119 www.businesscareers.appstate.edu
Watauga Women in Leadership operates under the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce umbrella The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce is a membership association that stands as the unified voice of the business community The chamber seeks to connect members and enhance relationships They serve as advocates to their membership on key community issues Through programming and events we further educate our member businesses and local workforce.
Contact: 828 264 2225 www.boonechamber.com