Reese Anthony (with hand raised), a senior at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, takes questions in a panel discussion alongside Boeing employees and UMSL alums Chris Hogland and Kathleen Bobbitt during the kick-off of the Boeing Mentorship Program, held Tuesday at Anheuser-Busch Hall. Anthony, who will graduate this December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an emphasis in finance, participated in the program last year, and after completing a summer internship, he was offered a full-time position with Boeing, which he will begin on Jan. 15. (Photos by Dave Benson)
To say that the Boeing Mentorship Program made a difference in University of Missouri–St. Louis senior Reese Anthony’s life would be an understatement.
Anthony, who will graduate this December with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an emphasis in finance, participated in the program last year with Kathleen Bobbitt – a 1993 UMSL grad and director for contracts operations at Boeing – serving as his mentor. With her guidance, he was able to get a summer internship as a financial analyst for Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray program and, after that experience, received an offer for a full-time position with the global aerospace manufacturer. He will begin his new job on Jan. 15.
Now in its 16th year, the mentorship program pairs students from the Ed G. Smith College of Business with UMSL alumni who work at Boeing for an experience that spans the academic year. Students can turn to their mentors for advice and insights into their own skills, their mentors’ backgrounds and career paths, and what it’s like to work in their departments at Boeing.
University of Missouri–St. Louis students participating in the 16th year of the Boeing Mentorship Program pose along with mentors from the global aerospace company during a kick-off event on Tuesday at Anheuser-Busch Hall.
Bobbitt observed the transformation that took place in Anthony over the course of the program.
“He was very nervous,” Bobbitt said of their first meeting a year ago. “We’ve all been nervous, we’ve all had our first day of whatever it is, but he was very upfront about being nervous and where he needed help.”
Bobbitt helped Anthony work through those nerves, offering advice on interviewing and helping him revise his resume. She also encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone, build his professional network and take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
Anthony said those conversations proved invaluable when he interviewed for the Boeing internship.
“We sat down for almost an hour, just going over interview tips, learning how to be prepared to make sure that you’re presenting yourself in the best way that you can,” Anthony said. “I think that’s so crucial, especially for me right now.”
Once he landed the internship, Anthony continued to lean on Bobbitt’s guidance. He networked with employees throughout Boeing and gained experience working alongside professionals in several areas of the company.
“He met so many of the various leaders, not just in finance, but also program management and engineering,” Bobbitt said. “He really got out there because that’s how you build a network, and he asked so many questions and learned not only from finance but from the engineers and others on how we do the things we do.”
Anthony said the lessons from the mentorship program helped him make the most of his internship and ultimately led to his full-time opportunity with Boeing. But more than that, he was able to apply what he learned into his everyday life.
Boeing employee Michael Disser (left) meets UMSL student Trey Schneider, while fellow mentor Kathleen Bobbitt (in blue) gets acquainted with Tritons Maya Jackson and Katie Mack during the kick-off event for the Boeing Mentorship Program.
“Talking about my goals out loud with somebody and having them give me ideas, give me things to think about, give me other considerations, I would say that was the main thing,” Anthony said. “The mentorship program helped me really get a vision on what I actually wanted to do and what I could accomplish after I graduate.”
That’s what the program is all about. Mentors are hoping to bring more people into the Boeing company, but more than that, they want to help the students figure out what is best for them.
“It’s not just all about Boeing,” said Bobbitt, who is entering her third year as a mentor in the program. “It’s great to be able to pull folks into Boeing, but I’ve also mentored students here that have other paths, outside of Boeing itself, and I keep in contact with them to see how they’re progressing, either with other corporations or maybe they’ve chosen a completely different path. I’m here to help our new potential business leaders in any capacity that I can.”
Last week, Anthony had a chance to step into a mentorship role. On Tuesday, he joined Bobbitt and other Boeing mentors at the kickoff for this year’s mentorship program at Anheuser-Busch Hall, and he was eager to pass on what he learned to a new group of students.
“I would just say be intentional on what you want to get out of each conversation,” Anthony said. “Their time is valuable, so take as much advantage of their time as you can and be as prepared as possible.”
That advice aligns with the way the Boeing Mentorship Program is designed. Students are encouraged to establish goals with their mentors early in the relationship and then use their meetings throughout the academic year to work toward those goals.
“Maybe it is getting an internship,” said Donella Boyd, a 2020 UMSL graduate and Boeing project manager who helps lead the program. “Or maybe it’s actually some interviewing skills and coaching. Really be specific with what you want to get out of it, and start to measure that as you continue through the program.”
Mentors from Boeing meet with their new mentees from UMSL during the kick-off of the Boeing Mentorship Program.
Boyd understands the value of that kind of guidance firsthand. She was an accounting student at UMSL and landed a Boeing internship after her freshman year. She went on to join the company full time after graduation and now helps mentor the next generation of UMSL students.
“The biggest advice that I have for these students is showing up, being curious and understanding that you’re not alone,” Boyd said.
Bobbitt said giving back to the university is important to her. She also sees the program as an important connection between UMSL and Boeing, helping the company identify and develop talented business students while giving students a chance to see how what they learn in the classroom translates to the workplace.
She believes UMSL’s focus on hands-on learning continues to develop quality candidates.
“The curriculum that we’re seeing has really been able to provide that problem-solving that we’re looking for,” she said. “They can then start learning to apply the things they’ve learned in school to the overall business side of things.”
An UMSL education and Boeing mentorship can open doors to opportunities students might not have imagined for themselves, as Anthony learned. He looks forward to more opportunities to provide that same guidance to future Tritons.
“For me, getting this opportunity essentially changed my whole life,” he said. “Being able to give that back and possibly impact the lives or the mindset of people that are in the position that I was, it would be amazing.”
