The KU Future Emerging Leaders (FUEL) Mentoring Program helps KU students obtain and expand the knowledge and skills needed for a viable business future.
The unique and progressive KU FUEL mentoring program connects students with a select group of business executives, decision-makers, owners, entrepreneurs, senior directors and managers, and community leaders and influencers. Quality mentoring enhances a student’s chances for success and provides professional socialization, business networking, and personal support to facilitate success during their undergraduate years, graduate school, and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE KU FUEL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM?
The KU FUEL Mentorship Program is designed to engage Mentor volunteers from various industries, backgrounds, and senior experience with current and matriculating KU students. The student will be paired, for a full semester, with an assigned Mentor based on the student’s major and interests. Opportunities to interact through the program will include virtual discussions, networking events and workshops, KU athletic events, and volunteer opportunities. Please DO NOT ask your mentor for a job or internship. The KU FUEL Mentorship Program is about building your professional network, personal development, and gaining academic and career advice. The primary focus of this program is not to create a specific job or internship, although those opportunities could arise. Future opportunities could be created based on your established networking and relationships.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE KU FUEL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM?
The KU FUEL Mentorship Program pairs a KU student with a select professional from business executives, decision-makers, owners, entrepreneurs, senior directors and managers, and community leaders and influencers — individuals with influence within their businesses, work environments, and/or communities. The student is exposed to all aspects of the Mentors’ career and responsibilities through monthly sessions. The Mentor will counsel the student on academics that will enhance their career and job opportunities, how to improve their employment chances, what employers look for, and additional programs, books, magazines, seminars, trade shows, etc. that can expand their knowledge and opportunities. The KU FUEL Mentorship Program will build your professional network and personal development while gaining valuable academic and career advice.
IS THE KU FUEL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IMPORTANT TO MY RESUME?
Adding the KU FUEL Mentorship Program to your resumé, along with a brief description of what it did for you in preparation for the job you are applying for, is very powerful. It shows extensive direct access and counsel from an influential industry leader. It offered you a clear industry understanding and valuable insight into the industry and its inner workings, and it exposed you to seminars, trade shows, publications, internships, etc. This exposure allows you to hit the ground running when given the opportunity to work in your chosen industry. It also adds your Mentor(s) as an impressive reference.
HOW OFTEN MUST A KU STUDENT APPLY FOR MENTORSHIP?
A KU student wanting a KU FUEL mentorship must apply through the KU FUEL website before each semester and commit to a full semester of monthly interactions with an assigned Mentor(s).