WHO YOU KNOW MATTERS

Mentorship inspires confidence and connections

Nearly every college graduate seeking that first full-time job hears a version of this advice: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

That advice is one reason Tori Folkestad, a senior business administration major at Minnesota State University Moorhead, took a one-credit course in the Paseka School of Business. The course called Executive Mentorship paired her with a professional mentor.

“There were lots of skills and networking circles I wanted to develop before going into a career,” Folkestad says. “I knew a mentor would help with that.”

What she didn’t anticipate is that her mentor, Brittany Grussing, would become a valued friend and cheerleader, someone she could reach out to with questions long after their formal commitment was over.

MSUM’s Executive Mentorship program began in 2013. Since then, nearly 300 students have been matched with professional mentors who represent industries across the region.

The program aims to increase students’ confidence and poise as they begin their professional careers, says Jane Pettinger, program coordinator and assistant professor in the Paseka School of Business. Mentors help students identify their talents and share advice to ease the transition from college to work.

“Our students are creative and smart and have a lot to offer, but they don’t always seem to realize that,” Pettinger says. “By interacting with area mentors, they realize they’re valuable.”

Folkestad was paired with Grussing, who works with patient experience at Sanford Health in Fargo. During the semester, the two women discussed topics ranging from past experiences to their personality assessments to how to act in an office setting.

Grussing helped Folkestad articulate her goals and introduced her to a professional work setting. After hearing that Folkestad wanted to feel more connected to the community, she invited the college student to volunteer and deliver Meals on Wheels with her.

But teaching and learning were a mutual pursuit. While Folkestad gleaned advice from Grussing, she shared her perspectives on what the upcoming generation of workers are like and how to use social media platforms effectively.

Learning from students is one reason Grussing has volunteered as a program mentor for the past four years.

“It’s as much about self-development for me as it is for the student. I get a chance to sit back, listen and learn,” Grussing says. “I feel like I receive as much as I give.”

She also sees value in giving students a glimpse into a professional environment before applying for their first post-graduation job. Grussing wishes she would’ve had that experience when she was a college student.

“Any of these students could be my boss someday, so I want to invest in them,” she says.

During the Executive Mentorship program, mentors and students meet two to four hours a month. Pettinger tries to pair students with someone who works in an industry or holds a position that the students are interested in.

While the formal relationship lasts for a semester, many mentor pairs stay in touch long beyond the end of the course. Folkestad is very comfortable reaching out to Grussing for advice as she starts her last semester of college. And Grussing is there to cheer her on. She points to Folkestad’s prior experiences in the food and beverage industry and her reflective nature.

“She’s phenomenal,” Grussing says. “She’ll succeed wherever she goes.”

As for Folkestad, she’s ready. Working with Grussing expanded her thinking and solidified her confidence.

“Before, I was nervous about entering the professional world,” she says. “Now, I know I’ll have a connection and relationship (with Grussing) if I need help in the future.”