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Family Business Leaders Program

Family Enterprise Center Students Family Business Leaders Program

Family Business Leaders 

Mentorship is crucial to success in the family firm. As of Fall 2026, the Family Enterprise Center is launching Family Business Leaders, a mentorship program in which UNC students interested in family business are mentored by family enterprise professionals over the course of the Fall semester.  

Who is Family Business Leaders for? 

Family Business Leaders is for UNC undergraduate and graduate students from any field of study who are interested in exploring their passion for family business by being mentored by a family enterprise professional.  

What is the mentee experience for Family Business Leaders? 

The mentee experience is focused on mentee enrichment, or programming that professionally develops mentees. Mentee enrichment includes social events, one-on-one mentorship, and discussions about leveraging mentorship in mentees’ professional lives.  

Examples of mentee enrichment events for the Fall 2026 mentorship program include: 

  • “Why Mentorship Is Important” with Mike Griffin BSBA ‘87, an interest event that examines the importance of mentorship.  
  • “Strengthening Your Menteeship” with Dr. William Faulkner PhD, a workshop in which mentees learn how to use their CliftonStrengths to strengthen their relationship with their mentor.  
  • “Leveraging Your Mentorship” with Caroline McCroskey UNC ‘17, a discussion on how to leverage the mentorships mentees have built with their mentor in their professional lives.  

To ensure mentees are fully immersed in mentee enrichment opportunities, mentees are required to attend all programming and meet twice with their mentor either virtually or in-person during the fall semester.  

What does Family Business Leaders offer to mentors? 

Family Business Leaders offers family enterprise professionals the opportunity to mentor students and in doing so share their industry expertise with our students and cultivate the growth of aspiring family business professionals.  

Mentors are expected to meet with their mentee twice either virtually or in-person during the fall semester and are invited to an optional end of semester closing dinner.  

Apply Now!  

We’re currently looking for mentors and mentees for our program! 

Family enterprise professionals, shape the careers of aspiring family business professionals:   

Mentors Apply Here 

Students, apply now as a mentee to explore your interest in family business: 

Mentees Apply Here 

Applications for both mentors and mentees close October 4th with a priority deadline of September 27th, 2026. The program begins in mid-October and ends in mid-November.  

Those with questions are welcome to contact Student Engagement Coordinator Aria Allen at aria_allen@kenan-flagler.unc.edu.  

We look forward to welcoming both mentors and mentees into our program this fall!