Projects
In a pilot program involving 10 "OKs" teamed with student mentors from a class of UC Berkeley students at Professor Malu Roldan's BA148 class. Groups met over a 15 week period to cross-mentor each other and work on projects that become solid referenceable work which could be put on a resume and used to get a "regular" job. One project, was funded in part by IBM. Other projects have actually become part of a business incubator looking for funding.
To date, Pilot Projects include:
SuccessAHEAD.com
The master of the concept, Fran Quittel and her "YK" team "The Destroyers" helped Fran leverage the "Junior Ments" article she wrote and researched for Computer Currents. In the new economy, what is important is cross-pollinating young talent skilled in techology with experienced business talent. Although many projects could become the basis for entrepreneurial activity, the focus of SuccessAHEAD!® is to re-cycle "older kids" ("OK's") into jobs with high technology companies or in hot fields and to provide "young kids" ("YK's") with valuable experience well beyond a simple internship. Part of the SuccessAHEAD!® program involved extensive technology tutorials provided by Professor Malu Roldan and Quittel's workshops for young and older "kids" on how to take this experience, package it into a resume and interview successfully.
Boure.com is a web-based online bicycle clothing business which sells clothes for mountain bikers. This project was co-sponsored by IBM.
The CEO of a nonprofit, "OK" Kerry developed a project to upgrade the interior spaces of non-profits by providing a total re-design of their physical plant, be they shelters for abused women or homeless or Goodwill merchandise centers. This project involved collecting and inventorying furniture, preparing a grant application to acquire funds for each non-profit re-design and establishing a total plan to create a well-designed total "look" to re-do to the physical space of the non-profit facility.
Conservatorship.com is the brainchild of a former materials management person of a large HMO who faced similar issues with her aging Mom. W hen completed, this website will provide much needed information for the responsible adults of aging older folks who need to implement a conservatorship program, no matter the location of the aged parent or responsible adult.
How to market your home on line or apply for a mortgage on-line? This real estate project scans in forms and sends completed applications into a database.
Hired by an HMO, our "OK" Michele developed a health information site for the members of her new employer, an East Bay managed care facility
A promising team of future web designers: Yvonne Chou, Alicia Jeu, Mimi Leung, and Frelon Ngai, all students at the University of California, Berkeley. Yvonne, a junior majoring in Business, specializes in web design. Alicia, also a junior majoring in Business, specializes in internal web page development. Mimi, a graduating senior from the business school, is an expert at registration pages, and Frelon is the master of creating customized searches. Together they participated in the pilot program of SuccessAHEAD!® as "The Destroyers".
Can a cross-mentoring project help your company or organization? Please let us know!