MAGAZINE FALL 2024
Mentor a Pitt Business Student
Pitt Business alumni can mentor students through one-to-one coaching, judging competitions, networking events, and more. For more information, contact Amy McCloskey at mccloskey@business.pitt.edu or fill out the alumni engagement form.
Want more from Rajaram and Greene? Listen to their March 2023 podcast episode.
In 2020, first-year student Shreya Rajaram (BSBA ’23) sought connection. Inspired by Claye Greene’s (SCI ’91, ’99G) talk on entrepreneurship at a Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity meeting, Rajaram reached out to Greene, who took her under his wing.
During her undergraduate years, Rajaram engaged in many extracurricular activities, developing skills that helped her secure a role at JPMorgan Chase as a global finance & business management analyst starting in July 2024. Her mentorship with Greene was pivotal for her professional and personal growth and opened a world of opportunities and pursuits. Together, they worked on consulting club workshops, LEAP speaker events, and a podcast episode for Enactus. She interned for 18 months at TechBlue, Greene’s company. She describes their quarterly check-ins as “monumental.”
Build a Personal Board
A key lesson from their mentorship was the concept of a personal board of directors — three to five trusted advisors for big decisions and regular check-ins.
Rajaram valued Greene’s unique approach to mentorship, which emphasized “soft skills” like emotional intelligence, growth mindset, and communication. His diverse experience in analytics, consulting, and entrepreneurship provided her with valuable cross-industry insights.
“Claye taught me how to show up authentically at work and in my personal life,” says Rajaram. “His passion for prioritizing creation over consumption has inspired me to reignite my hobbies and projects that I had previously neglected as I got swept up in classes and work and rediscover the joy of being passionate about the work I do.”
Mentorship Matters
In addition to his roles in three co-curricular programs at Pitt Business, Greene serves as an executive-in-residence, mentoring students like Rajaram. Greene’s advice to alumni and professionals looking to become mentors, or to enhance their mentorships, is twofold. He shares that a great mentor–mentee relationship relies on the mentor’s ability to connect and advises mentors to regularly ensure that the relationship is still beneficial for the mentee.
Greene cites listening as a must-have skill for those wanting to be mentors. “While teaching is incredibly important, without first listening and understanding, it’s difficult to shape messages that resonate with the mentees,” he says. Listening is how a mentor establishes what is important to the student.
Listening builds trust, which is essential for effective mentorship. “If a mentee seeks guidance or shares updates,” Greene says, “it shows I’ve earned their trust and provided valuable insights, making me a part of their life.”