YEBW’s most intensive and rewarding volunteer opportunity is the Company Advisor (CA) role. CAs serve as mentors to a student-lead "company" of 10-12 students. The CA guides his or her company through all aspects of YEBW, including business simulations, team-building exercises, company meetings, officer elections, speaker discussions, mock interviews, and the week-end presentations to volunteer judges.
Professional Development
The CA program is one of the best professional development programs available. CAs participate in seminars on current business topics, network with other professionals, and enhance their mentoring, communication, and time management skills. CAs rise to the challenge of getting their team of future business leaders moving in the right direction to accomplish their goals.
As is true in business, being a good advisor means being a trainer, team builder, problem solver, motivator, mentor, teacher, facilitator, and mediator. YEBW Company Advisors practice these skills all week and gain first-hand knowledge and confidence that only comes from experiential learning.
Time Commitment
Student participants experience Young Entrepreneurs Business Week for one full week, running from Sunday to Saturday. CAs arrive the Saturday before Business Week begins to attend one day of mandatory training and team building prior to the programs. With daily programming beginning at 8:00 am and concluding around 9:00 pm, the week is a very challenging yet rewarding experience. CAs will have opportunities throughout the day to attend to personal or business matters.
Training
YEBW requires its CAs to attend one day-long training prior to the program as well as a full day of training on campus the day before the programs officially kick-off. This session will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the YEBW experience, as well as offer the tools, skills, and knowledge needed to guide your team of students through the week. CAs will receive the curriculum packet prior to the program, which includes meeting agendas, activities, and a full program schedule. If additional training is needed, YEBW staff is happy to help at any time.
Testimonials
"As a Company Advisor, you hold the power to transform the students’ learning experience into your own “virtual leadership laboratory.” If you challenge yourself, you actually can practice and perfect many of the leadership concepts that are locked up in dusty three-ring binders on some bookshelf."
—Stan McNaughton, CEO, PEMCO Insurance
"YEBW offers kids a great alternative to playing video games all summer. Using old-fashioned board games and computer simulation models, high school students continue their journey towards financial literacy. Outside speakers as well as time in the classroom deliver valuable business basics to the students and serve as a refresher for company advisors. Mentoring young people in the art of building a business will result in positive outcomes for all. Being a company advisor is a rewarding experience that I hope all business professionals will consider."
—Denise L. Sunseri, Retired CFO & Avid Volunteer