At the start of my second semester in the MBA program, I had a lot on my plate, but I couldn’t shake this feeling that I could still be doing more to get the most out of my time at Knauss.
An investment like grad school should be taken seriously and I wanted to take advantage of every single resource Knauss had to offer–and thankfully, there’s a lot.
One of those? The mentorship program. My Professional Development Manager, Michelle Sedgwick, told me it was the perfect way to connect with someone who’d been in my shoes and could help me on my journey towards a successful career after graduation.
I was nervous, but I said yes–and it turned out to be one of the most impactful decisions I’ve made so far during my time in the program.
Getting Matched With My Mentor
A few weeks before the program began, I filled out a survey to get matched with the best possible mentor. The questions covered things like what industry I was interested in, my short and long-term career goals, and how I preferred to meet (in person, Zoom, or both). I also got to share the qualities I valued most in a mentor such as resume feedback, marketing connections, and tips for landing my first real job after graduation.
My mentor and I weren’t in the exact same industry, but the match worked in ways I would’ve never imagined. We both valued authentic connections over transactional networking, preferred clear, actionable goals over vague benchmarks, and I felt like she understood my goals and worries right away. Over our time working together we had phone calls, met twice in person and stayed in touch through texts whenever I had questions or progress updates on my internship search.
She became someone I texted comfortably whenever I had career questions, someone who helped me keep track of internship application deadlines (and held me accountable about applying), and someone who made networking way less intimidating. Not only did she have an extensive network of marketing professionals, but she also introduced me to a connection in brand management at a major pharmaceutical company in San Diego. That contact gave me a referral for one of the internships I was applying to, and before sending it, reviewed my portfolio and resume. She suggested wording tweaks to make them stronger and better aligned with the role. That kind of endorsement from someone already established in the industry gave me a huge confidence boost heading into job-application season.
We had the expected conversations about resumes, applications, and potential career paths, but we also talked about my fears. I admitted that I felt like I was playing catch-up from not having the traditional business background. But the more we talked, the more I realized I actually was doing the right things–tracking my internship applications in Excel, cold emailing agencies even when they didn’t have active internship listings, pursuing freelance marketing work, and even starting a TikTok account to with the goal of growing and monetizing it so I could add real metrics to my resume–and I just needed someone to reflect that back to me.
Real Talk: Here’s How It Helped Me
Accountability
My mentor made sure I stopped procrastinating on my portfolio—something that had cost me interviews and offers. I’d been afraid to start because I didn’t want my work to be judged. But something wild happened once I made it: I had so much less fear and so much more confidence because I had the work to prove it
Confidence
Now that I finally had my efforts consolidated into a strong resume and portfolio, I felt like a competitive applicant for internships. I can’t say I never second-guess myself anymore, but I’ve stopped doing it at every single step. I feel good about what I bring to the table and I’m ready to accept new opportunities.
Connections
Don’t get me wrong, networking is still a work in progress for me, but now I have real results to show for my efforts. My mentor introduced me to marketing contacts she knew at companies I was applying to, and I started setting up quick 15-minute Zoom meetings to get advice straight from the source. These conversations boosted my confidence when it came to internship interviews too.
Clarity
This was the hidden gem of the whole experience. I left the program with a sharper vision for my career, and more importantly, a game plan for how to get there. My mentor helped me focus on the strategies that actually move the needle—like building my portfolio, applying to jobs strategically, and reaching out to alumni in my dream roles. That roadmap alone was worth signing up for.
I’ll absolutely be joining the mentorship program again next semester–and I’d honestly love to return as a mentor after I graduate. The program is flexible and it works on my schedule. I felt like a fish out of water when I first started grad school, but now I feel confident about the path I’m on.
Your Turn
If you’re on the fence about the Knauss School of Business, consider this your sign. You don’t need to have a perfect plan or endless experience—what you need is guidance, accountability, and someone in your corner who’s been there before. The mentors in this program want to see you succeed, and they have the insight and connections to help you get there faster. Current students can click here to apply to be a mentee and get matched.
– Antonio Flores, MBA class of 2026
