Sponsor Project Guidelines

Introduction

We have gotten great feedback from sponsors like you from our pilot program last spring. Our goal for this upcoming session is to improve the experience by asking you to consider the following guidelines as you define your projects. As you do, please consider that our participants are seasoned financial service professionals in transition—the last class had more than 15 years of experience on average. To take advantage of that experience requires a clearly bounded project with concrete goals, objectives and milestones. Doing that work now will ensure the greatest benefit to your firm going forward.

Guidelines

JumpStartNYC participants will spend 10 weeks developing and executing a project for your company, as part of their educational experience. Their skill sets vary across the spectrum of financial functions – financial analysis, management, account management, investment banking, etc. – so you should expect to find a consultant to meet your particular needs once defined. Moreover, each participant will receive coaching assistance from the Levin Institute throughout the program. The idea is to help your company to tackle an important project -- that would not otherwise be completed by one of your employees -- while helping the participant apply their skills in a new context, learn new skills and expand their networks. Of course if your long-term needs and the participants' qualifications align we hope you will hire them!

Use the attached form to describe your company and define one (or more) projects you would like to complete. We understand that plans can change even over the short run. We hope that you will work with your JumpStartNYC consultant to adapt to such change – as that is part of the learning experience. Also, while the final scope of work and the participant’s work routine will be determined mutually by the company and the participant at the beginning of the project, an important part of the JumpStart NYC program is to give the consultant experience in a new and different business environment. As such, we expect that the consultant may spend time in your office as needed. However, you should expect the project to be completed independently based on the consultant's previous experience.

An important part of the JumpStart NYC program is to give the consultant experience in a new and different business environment, and we expect that the consultant will spend time in your office. However, you should expect the project to be completed independently and at the consultant’s direction based on the consultant’s previous training and experience.

Project Examples

Build from your current needs and specify deliverables as much as you can. Project examples include:

Development of a section of your business plan
A market research project for an industry vertical or regional market
An analytic project related to the company’s operational practice
The completion of more sophisticated financial planning approach, etc.
Process refinement
Research report for market best practices

We are accepting project applications until June 30th; the educational program begins July 12th; and the projects will start on July 19th. We will do our best to work with you to meet your specific needs and desires as time allows.

Thanks for your interest. Check out the Companies FAQ or email us for more information.