Go TEAM! Trulaske mentoring program supports students as they embark on their professional journeys
As a marketing student in the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business, Denver native Rachel Lukes recognizes the power of building a team to help ensure she’s ready to hit the ground running when she graduates in May 2027.
Lukes took the first step by signing up to participate in the Trulaske Employer & Alumni Mentoring Program (TEAM), a powerful initiative that matches Trulaske students with alumni and supporters who have volunteered to share their experiences.
“There is always so much you can learn from experienced professionals, so I want to expand my network, and it seemed like a simple and easy way to do so,” Lukes said.
Through TEAM, Lukes was paired with Gretchen (Metzger) Aul, BSBA ’19, an associate merchant with Walmart who specializes in the Disney and Barbie doll lines.
“My mentor couldn’t have been a better match for me,” Lukes said. “She has experience working in a big city, which is interesting to me, and she also works in marketing. She has worked for companies such as Hallmark Cards and Walmart, and I always liked the idea of working for a company with strong brand loyalty.”
Aul guided Lukes through her internship search, sharing tips to help her stand out at career fairs and even connecting her with others in the industry.
“She helped give guidance on interviews and was really just available at all times whenever I had questions pop up,” Lukes said.
TEAM launched in fall 2025 with 47 students and 47 mentors. Administered by Trulaske’s Career Services office, TEAM is a semester-long program geared to students in all grade levels. Participating students are matched with mentors who share similar interests and meet three times throughout the semester (either in person or via Zoom) to gather input.
Mentors were recruited through engaged alumni and supporters of the college and came from a variety of employers, including professionals at Bank of America, Hallmark, General Mills, ESPN and other major employers.
“They’re all huge supporters of Trulaske and just want to give back,” said Shannon Ferguson, director of Career Services.
Students have been matched with professionals in New York, Chicago and other big cities — which turned out to be a big plus for Lukes as she weighs her own options.
“After talking to Gretchen and hearing about her experience moving to and working in a city, I realized that I would be interested in doing the same,” Lukes said. “I love my hometown and where I grew up, but I would love to get to explore other parts of the country and relocate to a different state post-grad for new opportunities.”
The guidance Lukes received from her mentor also helped her set career goals for herself after graduation. While she has her sights set on marketing, she learned from conversations with Aul that sales would be a good start.
While TEAM is a semester-long program, the application to serve as a mentor is continuously open.
“As a Trulaske alum, I feel a strong desire to give back to a program that had such a meaningful impact on my growth,” Aul said of her own decision to serve as a mentor. “I am always eager to mentor business students and share the lessons I've learned over the years to help them navigate their next steps.”
Ferguson said the experience is mutually beneficial for the students, who benefit from hearing the first-hand experiences of working professionals, and the mentors, who have the opportunity to learn from students.
“It reinforced how valuable open, honest conversations can be when navigating career decisions,” Aul said. “Seeing my mentee grow in confidence was incredibly rewarding, and mentoring always pushes me to reflect on my own journey and continue growing as a leader.”
While mentors are only required to commit to three meetings, Lukes said she and Aul have continued to stay in touch by text.
“I hope mentees feel they have a mentor they can always reach out to and that our conversations helped build their confidence to think big and aim high,” Aul said.
TEAM is also part of Trulaske Edge, an innovative experience-centered learning opportunity that helps students build valuable professional skills throughout college by attending speaking engagements, training and other opportunities. Though students participating in TEAM are eligible to obtain Edge points that count toward their graduation, Lukes said she had already fulfilled her points — she just joined TEAM for the experience.
“What I took from this program is that it is so important to lean on support at such a pivotal stage in my professional journey,” Lukes said. “It helped me realize that I am not alone in this journey of figuring out my next steps in life, and while it is not easy getting a rejection letter from one company, it just means a better opportunity is waiting at another.”
Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.