What the Professional Mentorship Program Has Done For Me
By PMP Mentee Andrew Simpson-Johnson
Before the Professional Mentor Program, I was a student in the Leeds School of Business that was not involved in any type of club affiliated with the college. I wanted to get more involved in a way that would benefit me and help me meet new people. When I first heard Katie Connor speak about the program and describe the type of opportunities that were available to those who joined, I was immediately drawn to apply. It was the perfect opportunity for me to get more involved at Leeds while at the same time it provided me with something that I truly valued; a professional resource.
The program allows the applicant to be matched up with a professional in any industry the student prefers. For me, I was matched with Jim Huff, a senior executive with an immense amount of experience in the areas of consulting and outsourcing. From the first time that I talked to him over the phone he gave me insightful advice and provided objectives for me to reach while we cultivated our relationship. He introduced me to some of his closest friends and business associates in order to gain from their additional perspectives. Jim has helped me develop my knowledge of several different aspects of the business world including networking, interviewing, resume building, interpersonal communication, maintaining a business relationship, and how to find the career that I wanted given my degree.
Over the past year, I have learned an immense amount from my mentor, Jim Huff. He has educated me in the most important things that every successful professional should know. A better understanding of the professional world, the right kind of communication to those trying to help you, and the importance of a broad, well maintained, solid network are all things that my mentor has taught me. When looking for jobs, joining the PMP gives any student a huge advantage over any other applicant, not just on paper, but almost entirely from the knowledge that you will have gained from your experience.
After joining the Professional Mentorship Program, I quickly learned that this was not only an opportunity to build a lifelong relationship with someone, but that it also provided me with the resources I needed to expand my own network beyond what was originally available. The program helped me build a foundation for my life after Leeds.
Andrew is pursuing a Bachelors Degrees in Economics as well as Business Administration, with an emphasis in Finance. He is from Louisville, Colorado and graduated from Monarch High School in 2008. He works part time as a server in Boulder and enjoys playing tennis, basketball, and skiing in his free time. Andrew hopes to find a career in the financial sector after graduating from the University of Colorado.










