Through the Consulting & Business Development Center’s Foster Consulting Program, students are matched with business owners for six-week consulting projects to help with a specific business need. The Center matches three advisors, typically project management or consulting professionals, with each student team to help them deliver value to the client and reinforce learning and professional development. Advisors support the students by providing professional expertise in helping the team solve business challenges, as well as connect the students to business resources that can assist the client companies. These advisors play a pivotal role in the success of the center and contribute to student learning and to business growth. If you’re interested in utilizing your Professional Consulting skills to mentor and support students we encourage you to apply.
Time Commitment
1-2 hours each week for 6 weeks
Roles & Responsibilities
- Conduct a weekly meeting with the team to provide support, help the team identify key issues that need to be addressed, and help the team develop recommendations for business improvement.
- Team meetings are generally held at the UW campus. We prefer that advisors attend the weekly meetings in person, but on occasion, conference calls can be conducted.
- Respond to email requests for help and support on the student project.
- Connect the team with other resources that the client business may need. These might include attorneys, accountants, marketing consultants, and bankers.
Advising vs. Performing
- Reviewing and providing feedback on project management deliverables
- Facilitating a project planning session
- Helping students find resources or connecting them to industry experts to help them with their project
- Questioning the students and encouraging them to think deeper