Business Innovation is an opportunity to follow as passionate pursuit from imagination to innovation. Students will learn the skill sets necessary to move an idea from light bulb to launch. They will live and learn states of ideation, business development, perfected pitch proposals and business implementation. Either individually or as part of a team they will utilize critical thinking to grow ideas to the next level. Students will be supported in the development of a start-up company, social enterprise, or nonprofit organization. Each student is partnered with a professional mentor. This course is held off-campus at the Insight Office. Professional attire is required for students.
MENTOR
Reported to be the most powerful component of the Insight experience, our mentors are integral to the learning of the next generation of professionals. Each Insight student is matched with a professional in a career field of interest to them. If you are interested in being added to our list of mentors, please complete the brief form below. If we have a student match, we will contact you!
GET INVOLVED
GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Your career, training, skills, and journey are worth sharing with our students, and our students love knowing how what they are doing today will be critical to their success tomorrow. If you are interested in sharing your story, or how you apply skills in your professional world, we would love to welcome you as a guest instructor. Don’t worry - our educators will help provide pointers on connecting with our young adults, and will facilitate how the curriculum is interwoven into your story. If interested, please complete the guest instructor form and identify the topics you are comfortable addressing with students. This will enter you into our database, and we will reach out to you as opportunities arise. Be prepared to be asked back again!
BUSINESS PROJECTS
Business partners provide real project work to further their business goals, while providing students with an opportunity to build their portfolios and resumes.
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Do you have a challenging project that will train students in key skills for employability?
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Do you have a project that’s been on the back burner because you lack the staff or time?
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Do you have a project that needs more hands-on participants, or would benefit from the perspective of a young adult?
MENTORSHIP FAQs
What is the time commitment for the mentor?
Mentors commit to working with their mentee 1-2 times per month for the duration of the academic school year (September - May)
Am I qualified to be a mentor?
If you are employed (or self-employed) within a field, you are able to mentor a student interested in that career. All mentors must pass a background check (completed online) and review a training (provided virtually and in person; mentors select their preference)
What do I talk about with my student/mentee?
We encourage you to share information about your career journey, best practices within your field, opportunities to grow and continue to learn, etc. We provide you and your student with a list of topics and questions to help get conversations started.
How are mentor meetings set up? How long should they last?
Students are responsible for initiating contact every month with their mentor. The first contact with the mentor is usually a brief email or phone call to check-in and schedule a meeting. The meeting is the second contact, and can take place in-person or virtually. Most meetings last around 30 minutes.
Where do I meet with my mentee?
There are many options, and what is the “right” choice really depends on you and the needs of you and your mentee. Our mentors live and work across the US, so many of our students meet virtually with their mentors. If you live locally, you are always invited to meet your mentee at our Insight Office or at Pewaukee High School. You can also invite your mentee to your business location, or you can meet at a local Starbucks!
Beyond our monthly meetings, can I provide other opportunities for my mentee?
Absolutely! Some of our mentors invite students to networking events, job shadows, or introduce them to others in their company. Some have completed book studies with their students, and others provide information on professional networks they can join. Additionally, you can provide critical feedback for projects they are working on in their course. We strive to keep our “asks” very realistic for our mentors. That being said, it is always a gift to our students to have them experience additional opportunities through their mentorship with you.
I’m interested in becoming a mentor. What is my next step?
If you are interested in being added to our list of mentors, please complete the brief form below. If we have a student match, we will contact you!
If I have additional questions, who should I contact?
Please contact Adriana Plach, Continuous Improvement Coordinator and Insight Director, at placadr@pewaukeeschools.org or 262-695-5057.
BUSINESS PROJECTS
Do you have a challenging project that will train students in key skills for employability? Do you have projects that have been put on the back-burner due to lack of time or participants?
Our students can create a positive impact on your company at NO CHARGE. Business partners provide real project work to further their business goals, while providing students an opportunity to build their portfolios and resumes.
Students are expected to contribute significantly to actual business needs and will be guided by instructors and mentors. This is not an internship program.
Students participating in the Insight program have been selected through an application and interview process. They have demonstrated communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. They must be adaptable and motivated to collaborate with adults in the professional world as well as their peers.
Examples of Business Projects:
Insight is open to discussion on any challenges that businesses face and would like to focus on to meet their business goals. Some of the projects that our Insight students have completed include:
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Business Plan Development
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Marketing Analysis
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Price Strategy Development
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Market Research
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Brand Development
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Event Planning and Management
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Social Media Strategy Development
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Product Selling and Donation Solicitation
What is the financial cost of this to my business?
There is no financial cost. This is a unique opportunity for businesses to have projects completed by a group of highly-motivated high school students who are acquiring real-world experience as they fine-tune their post-secondary plans.
What is the time commitment for the business?
Students usually complete a project over the school year. Projects usually begin in October of each school year, and wrap in April. The time commitment usually involves 3 meetings with the business in total, along with weekly email communication once the project is underway.
How many students will be working on my project?
There are teams of 4-5 students that usually focus on each project. While the students work collaboratively, they each take different leadership roles within their team (i.e. project manager, communication specialist, etc.)
Do I need to supervise the students?
No - our Insight instructors provide supervision. The business contact will receive a weekly update from the team’s communication specialist once the project has begun. This allows you to stay informed about their work and advise them if your objectives change.
Where do students complete the work?
Students complete the work at our Insight Office and in the field. While they may visit your location 1-2 times, you do not need to provide them a work space.
What does this process look like?
The project process is as follows:
Before the project begins:
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Business representative(s) meet with an Insight instructor to discuss the project. Objectives will be established and deliverables will be identified. The Insight Instructor will develop a Business Charter that will outline the plan for the project. He/She is also the expert on the capabilities of the students to help develop a plan that is realistic.
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Once the student teams are established, there is an introduction meeting so the business representative(s) can meet the students and get to know those working on the project.
When the project is underway:
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The business representative(s) will receive a weekly email update from the team regarding their progress. This allows the business to stay informed and communicate any changes on their end that might impact the students’ work.
When the project is complete:
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The students will set up a final meeting with the business representative (at either the business location or the Insight office) to present their deliverables.
Who do I contact to learn more or get started?
Please contact Adriana Plach, Continuous Improvement Coordinator and Insight Director, at placadr@pewaukeeschools.org or 262-695-5057.