Mentorship for College Students Who Mean Business
Big Careers is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ newest programs, providing personalized, career-focused mentorship for college students. Designed for young adults facing barriers such as limited access, representation, or career exposure, this innovative initiative helps students gain the social capital and confidence they need to grow into Orange County’s next generation of workforce leaders.
This is more than academic support—it’s real-world career mentoring with long-term impact. Each student is matched with a professional mentor in Southern California, an accomplished and connected leader in their industry who offers guidance and encouragement throughout their college journey and into a high-impact career. Students also gain access to Big Brothers Big Sisters’ career readiness resources and events and ongoing match support.
Through quarterly communication, access to exclusive career readiness resources and events, and ongoing match support, students in Big Careers receive the wraparound support they need to excel in college and launch successful careers.
WHO ARE OUR MENTORS
Accomplished professional mentors in Southern California who are:
- Respected entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and industry leaders shaping the future of business and innovation
- Passionate about creating a more equitable workforce and cultivating the next generation of talent
- Deeply rooted in the local business community, helping mentees tap into influential networks and real career pathways
Interested in becoming a mentor?
WHO ARE OUR MENTEES?
Big Careers mentees are highly motivated students who:
- Are enrolled in or accepted into a community college, four-year college, or university
- Are seeking a career mentor and professional networks
- Often are the first in their families to attend college
Interested in becoming a mentee?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Each match determines the type, location, and frequency of meet ups, making Big Careers easy to fit into busy lives. In addition to these quarterly, 1:1 check-ins (can be virtual or in-person), matches also receive ongoing support from Big Brothers Big Sisters and get exclusive access to career readiness workshops, networking events, and personalized resources.
We require a minimum one-year commitment and quarterly communication between mentor and mentee. Additionally, Big Brothers Big Sisters provides ongoing match communication, which includes quarterly check-ins with both the mentor and the mentee.
We match through a thoughtful process that prioritizes alignment, compatibility, and shared goals. BBBS Staff take into consideration things like career interests, professional goals, college affiliation, field of study, and availability.
At sign up, both mentors and mentees submit a resume that serves as a key tool in the matching process to identify complementary experiences and pathways. This ensures that each match is purposeful, well-aligned, and positioned for success.
Yes. All mentors complete reference checks and a national criminal background check to ensure a safe and trusted experience.
POWERED BY BLAKE JOHNSON ALLIANCE
Big Careers is made possible through a generous grant from entrepreneur and philanthropist Blake Johnson, a BBBSOCIE Board Member and the founder of the Blake Johnson Alliance. Named Philanthropist of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Johnson understands the power of mentorship firsthand. He created the Blake Johnson Alliance to expand opportunities for young people to succeed in school and in life. Big Careers is a testament to that mission, empowering youth in their pursuit of higher education to help them rise, lead, and thrive.