Communication and responsiveness are key to successful business-education partnership, leaders say

As schools explore ways to leverage the power of partnerships with local businesses eager to develop and attract the workforce of the future, representatives from area businesses, schools and internship programs are calling for clear and responsive communication. says that adaptability is the key.

Delegates shared their advice in two different panel discussions. BizTimes Media Milwaukee Education Spotlight Events being held this week at the Italian Community Center.

Panelists included: Hank Colepresident and CEO of the Milwaukee-based medical device manufacturer. MPE Co., Ltd..; amy rebeckprincipal of Whitefish Bay High School; Danny McCormickDirector of Career Programs and Partnerships Carmen School of Science and Technology; Kari ConradWest Allis-based president Enhance your graphics and branding; Andy Stithpresident of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; Angie SandovalCommunity Engagement Analyst, johnson controls; Blanca Gonzalez, executive director of icstars.and Sarah Dollhausen-ClarkAssistant Director of Talent Partnerships and Pipeline northwestern mutual.

Many of the speakers also talked about building strong relationships within their respective organizations, whether it's an intern's immediate supervisor, a company leadership position suitable for working with a high school student, or someone a student can contact. He also mentioned the importance. If you don't feel comfortable talking to your manager, express your questions or complaints.

Mr. Cole and the Whitefish Bay High School students who work with Mr. Rebeck. GPS education partner MPE's programs provide work-based learning for students with an ancillary but important goal: to show students that there are more paths to success than attending a four-year college. Cole said he spends a lot of time talking to students about the rapid growth in technology and how workplaces are often better able to accommodate that growth than educational institutions.

Conversely, he said it's important to make the entire organization aware of what interns can bring to the company, and companies should be more proactive in educating existing employees about how they can be kind ambassadors for the company and the industry. He said he is committed to good education.

“One of the things we knew we needed to do was educate organizations about what we were doing so they could better put mentors in place for interns,” Cole said. Told.

honest communication

For Leveque, mentoring is key to students' success in the workplace, but so is “really strong communication” between school and business stakeholders. And strong communication means being honest about what's working and what's not, especially in the early stages of an internship program.

“With any partnership, there's going to be some bumps along the way, so you just learn from them,” Lebeck said.

This is especially true when working with high school students, who often have a certain idea of ​​what the job or field is actually like, but find it different when they actually work. She said it could be revealed.

“I think it’s important to always visit sites, be honest about expectations, and always keep expectations high for students,” Leveque added.

Having honest and transparent conversations is critical to Gonzels, whose leadership role at icstars helps place students in intensive technology internships at companies like Northwestern Mutual. .

“We need to figure out what the company's needs are. What are the needs of the interns in our program at that point? And be able to say, 'Where does this fit into the company?' It will be. “We ultimately want to make sure the placement is great,” she said.

From a company/employer perspective, Dollhausen-Clark, who led icstars before joining Northwestern Mutual, said clear communication with companies is important, especially what restrictions companies have. He said it's important to understand what is going on and how we can work together. you. “

Building relationships

Panelists also emphasized the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships for the staff who run the programs and the students they serve.

“The biggest thing to remember, at least from the student's perspective, is that we're building these relationships to see where it ultimately takes the student,” said Cristo Rey, president. said Sandoval, a graduate. For Johnson Controls Cristo Rey students. “Building a trusting relationship is really important, and that means getting to know your students more (not just their career aspirations). It's a good idea to reassure and then ask questions. Even if you're not a perfect match at the end of the day, try to bridge the relationship with that student. Sometimes it's important to know what the student gets out of it. It matters less what you or your department get out of it.”

At Cristo Rey, students participate in a work-study program starting as freshmen at one of dozens of corporate partners, but they learned that the most important person in the internship program is each student's immediate supervisor. said Stith.

“That person is the person who will be the touchpoint in that student's day-to-day experience. The CEO can think it's a great idea, and CEOs are used to thinking about the big picture. When it comes down to it, you can sometimes lose a little bit of momentum and support. So I would say that the boss is going to be really important to making sure the relationship is successful. And if that boss doesn't get it or doesn't understand it. If you think it’s a burden or you don’t believe in your kids, it’s not going to work,” Stith said.

McCormick, who oversees the internship program at Carmen School of Science and Technology, also emphasized the importance of having strong talent in the companies where students intern.

“While having a key point of contact is definitely a best practice, it is also one of the biggest barriers. “Not all companies have people who can dedicate their talents to internships with schools and vice versa,” he said.

Conrad, whose large-format printing company Amplify has worked with students at the Carmen School, said it's also important for students to have a sense of all the different roles at companies they might eventually fill.

“We're fortunate enough to have the ability to basically have every position open,” she said. “So, especially with the interns, he works with all aspects of our company, from delivery drivers to sales to production, and he gives them a background of the different possibilities that are out there. ”

When things go well

Stith said there are many challenges that can arise when working with teenagers, but it's amazing to see what happens when an internship really clicks.

“Students who were sophomores and juniors when we started the high school internship program are now interning with the same organizations as college students, and we are starting to see them all be job-ready by the time they graduate. ” he said.

“I think we need to think about workforce development and talent development very differently in this community,” Stith said. “When I walk into the offices of different companies in the community, I hear that they need diverse talent. We need diverse, college-educated talent in our offices. But where do we find that? I still don't know if I'll be able to do it. And I'm confused because when I look out my window at 18th and National School, I see people walking in and out of school every day. This city is full of talent. If we want to grow in the future, we have to learn how to look at it differently.”