Deming Center Partnership Opportunities
Mentoring
Description: MBA students are offered the opportunity to be matched with a mentor beginning in the spring of their first year. The mentor and mentee, depending on the student’s needs, the mentor’s availability, and any special circumstances, agree upon the goals and structure of the relationship. A typical engagement might include meetings every 2-4 weeks and email or phone contact in between. Undergraduate students have a mentoring program with a lower time commitment, typically twice a year for two years.
Timing: Fall and/or spring semesters, occasionally continuing through summer.
Time commitment: 2-4 hours per month for three months or twice yearly for two years.
Financial commitment: none.
Internships
Description: MBA students between their first and second years seek summer internships, occasionally continuing part-time into the fall. Undergraduate entrepreneurship certificate students seek internships of at least 60 hours, typically part-time during their junior year. Interns generally expect to be paid. The most expeditious way to get make the opportunities visible to our students is to fill in the details of the positions using the following link:
http://leeds.colorado.edu/PostJob.
Timing: Full-time in the summer, part-time in fall and/or spring. Companies need to fill out an intern job description.
Time commitment: Preparation and interview time, plus supervision time.
Financial commitment: Cost of intern time. Undergraduates usually receive $10-12/hr; graduate students $18-20/hr.
Judging
Description: The Deming Center hosts seven different business plan competitions during the year. Judges are needed for both screening and final in-person reviews.
Timing: December, January, February, March, April
Time commitment: 4-6 hours.
Financial commitment: none.
Speaking
Description: Both undergraduate and graduate classes seek speakers from particular industry sectors or with experiences relevant to the class theme. Speakers are often set up six months in advance to ensure fit with the timing of the class and syllabus. Speakers may also be needed to talk with student groups, or for Deming industry events such as breakfasts on specific topics like clean technology.
Timing: September through April.
Time commitment: 2-4 hours preparation, 1-2 hours in class.
Financial commitment: none.
Projects
Description: A number of classes require students to take on an industry problem of relevance and work with a company to identify solutions.
Timing: September-December or January-April.
Time commitment: Identify and propose project; supervise project team; attend class presentation of final results.
Financial commitment: none.
Cases
Description: The Deming Center is developing a library of business cases from companies doing work in sustainability or developing new business models. Cases fall into the general categories of marketing, operations, or finance. An industry leader works with a professor and student intern who identify a key challenge faced by the company and create an analysis for students to come up with solutions. Cases will be used by Leeds students and disseminated to other schools for use as well.
Timing: Any time during the year; about 2-3 months overall to complete a case.
Time commitment: Identify potential cases; work with professor and student to frame case and review writeup; perhaps 12-14 hours.
Financial commitment: none.
Interviews
Description: Both undergraduate and graduate students are regularly required to interview entrepreneurs or leaders with particular areas of expertise as a part of a class experience. The Deming Center typically helps match 4-6 students each semester with an interviewee.
Timing: Generally around October and February.
Time commitment: 1-2 hours.
Financial commitment: none.
Hiring students
Description: MBA and undergraduate students graduate each spring with a solid business education, a wide range of interests and skills, and, frequently, previous business experience. The Leeds School’s Career Services Office can help potential employers get in touch with students who could be a good match for their needs.
Timing: March-May
Time commitment: Meet with Career Services, develop job description, interview students.
Financial commitment: employee salary.
Event Hosting
Description: Financial support for the Deming Center, its events, and its students allows a high degree of interactive learning as students gain access to business leaders and industry gatherings. Major donations for scholarships or operating funds are discussed directly with the Deming Center Executive Director.
Event hosting includes (a) covering the cost of food for student lunches with industry speakers, Deming Center Networking Nights, or Board breakfasts; or (b) providing student stipends to attend events such as the Sustainable Opportunities Summit or to serve as interns to start-up firms or nonprofit organizations.
Timing: 1-2 events per month throughout the year.
Time commitment: none.
Financial commitment: $100-$1500.
Deming Center corporate partner
Description: Corporate partners provide financial and in-kind support for particular areas of interest. Partnerships are tailored to company interests. Partners may host events, provide services, products, or food for events, host projects or student group activities, or other activities.
Timing: Typically a three-year commitment
Time commitment: Varies. May include meetings with students, event attendance, etc.
Financial commitment: Varies; typical engagement is $5,000 per year.
Financial support
Description: Financial support for the Deming Center helps the Center provide fundamental services to students and the business community; start or seed new programs; and offer student fellowships, internships, and support for student groups.
Timing: Varies.
Time commitment: Minimal time required, although financial supporters often choose to engage directly with students in other ways.
Financial commitment: Varies.