Cox Mentorship Academy

Connect with an experienced business leader who can challenge your thinking, expand your perspective and help you make meaningful progress toward a professional development goal.

Expand your perspective on leadership — and what comes next.

MBA students often come to SMU Cox with significant professional experience and increasingly complex goals. The Cox Mentorship Academy (CMA) connects motivated MBA students with seasoned business leaders who can bring an experienced perspective to conversations about leadership, career advancement, professional transitions and long-term growth. 

Built around a professional development goal you define, the five-month mentorship gives you an opportunity to step outside your day-to-day environment and learn from someone whose experience can inform your path forward. Through focused one-on-one conversations, your mentor can challenge your assumptions, share lessons from their own career and help you approach important decisions and opportunities from a different point of view. 

Is the Cox Mentorship Academy right for you?

The Cox Mentorship Academy is designed for motivated MBA students who have identified a professional development goal and are ready to take an active role in working toward it. 

The program may be a good fit if you want to strengthen your leadership capabilities, prepare for greater responsibility, navigate a career transition or inflection point, gain perspective on a complex professional challenge or work intentionally toward a longer-term career goal. 

At a Glance

Who can participate: Eligible SMU Cox MBA students who have completed their first full semester

Mentorship cycle: Five months

Mentor meetings: Three to five meetings per cycle

Meeting format: In person, virtually or by phone, based on what works best for the mentorship pair

Student commitment: Define a professional development goal, participate in training and take an active role in the mentoring relationship

Opportunities to participate: Fall and spring cycles

Make the most of your mentorship.

Cox Mentorship Academy relationships are designed to be focused and goal-oriented. Your mentor brings extensive professional experience to the conversation, but you bring something equally important: a clear understanding of what you want to work toward and a willingness to take ownership of your development. 

Start with a goal. Identify a meaningful professional development objective that can provide focus for your conversations throughout the cycle. 

Take ownership. Be proactive about scheduling, communication and follow-through. Plan for three to five substantive conversations during your five-month mentorship. 

Invite a different perspective. Come prepared to discuss challenges, opportunities and decisions openly — and be willing to consider ideas or approaches that may challenge your current thinking. 

Put insight into action. Look for opportunities to apply what you learn between meetings, reflect on the results and bring those experiences back into your next conversation. 

How the Cox Mentorship Academy works

  1. Apply | August or December

    Applications typically open in August for the fall cycle and December for the spring cycle. Exact application and program dates are established for each academic year.

  2. Prepare | Late August

    Selected participants attend required training to prepare for a successful mentoring relationship and learn what to expect throughout the program.

  3. Get matched

    CMA uses a personalized matching process that considers your stated goals and career trajectory along with career coach insight, mentor style, experience level and overall fit. 

  4. Prepare for the relationship

    Mentors and mentees receive training and best practices designed to help them establish expectations and make productive use of their time together.

  5. Meet and make progress | Five months

    Connect with your mentor three to five times during the cycle. Meetings can take place in person, virtually or by phone — whatever works best for you and your mentor.


Learn from leaders with experience to share.

Cox Mentorship Academy mentors bring decades of experience from across industries, functions and leadership roles. The program’s pool of more than 120 mentors gives MBA students access to accomplished professionals who can offer the kind of perspective that comes from navigating complex decisions, leading organizations and building careers over time. 

120+

CMA Mentors

70%+

director level or above

34

years of average professional experience


Ready to work toward what's next?

A clear goal can be even more powerful when you have an experienced perspective alongside you. The Cox Mentorship Academy gives you dedicated space to focus on your professional development, learn from an accomplished business leader and turn new insight into meaningful progress. 

Applications typically open in August for the fall cycle and December for the spring cycle. 

Apply to the Cox Mentorship Academy

Questions? Contact Alex Cross at alexandracross@smu.edu or Jessica Lunce at jlunce@smu.edu. 

Become a Mentor

If you’re interested in mentoring MBA students, the Cox Mentorship Academy is currently seeking SMU and Cox School alumni with 15+ years of professional experience to dedicate three hours a semester to mentorship. While business experience is preferred, mentors are not required to hold a B.B.A. or MBA degree for consideration. No previous mentoring experience is required. If you're interested in mentoring at a different degree level, we also offer mentoring programs for our Specialized Master’s and B.B.A. students.

Become an MBA Mentor
Learn more