Giving Back Through Mentorship

Having benefited from mentor relationships during her time at Oakland University, Bhakti Patil, SBA ’23, prioritized becoming a mentor herself. Just one month after Patil earned her master’s degree, she joined Leadership OU, which provides leadership, mentoring and networking opportunities to undergraduates by connecting them with successful OU alumni.

Bhakti Patil, SBA ’23

“I experienced so many great mentorships at OU, but they were all organic,” says Patil. “This is the first time I’ve been part of a structured program that brings people together.”

Patil was paired with D’Zariah Hopkins, a junior communication major, for the 2023-24 academic year, and they had an easy rapport from the start.

Unsure of what to expect as a first-time mentor, Patil found inspiration in her past relationships with OU advisers and professors, including Meaghan Cole, Ed.D., experiential programs manager in the School of Business Administration (SBA); Greg Thrasher, Ph.D., associate professor of management; and Nancy Savage, special lecturer in human resource management. With their encouragement and support at OU, Patil successfully navigated a career change from biology to business that led to her current role as a human resources generalist at BorgWarner.

Patil aims to help Hopkins successfully transition from being an OU student to a working professional. Having recently traveled that path herself, Patil offers invaluable insight. “Having someone as my mentor who’s successful and close to my age is helpful,” Hopkins says. “It also means a lot to connect with someone who walked the same grounds as me at OU.”

D’Zariah Hopkins, communication student

Networking and setting up a LinkedIn account for Hopkins were the pair’s initial priorities. “Networking is easily the biggest thing I gain from having Bhakti as my mentor,” Hopkins says. “I’m making connections that I wouldn’t have been able to before, and I didn’t realize that for networking, LinkedIn is where it’s at.”

Another goal has been to secure an internship for Hopkins. Initially concerned that she and Hopkins didn’t graduate with the same major, Patil found this to be a nonissue. “I’m not that familiar with the communications space, but I am able to get D’Zariah connected with the right people,” Patil says. “When looking for internships, often it’s all about getting your foot in the door. We’re also working on how to interview, what to say, when to say it, and also what to put on your resume.”

Leadership OU’s keynote speaker presentations have also left a lasting impression on Hopkins. “Two of the speakers were Black women in communication, and it was really powerful that I could identify with these women who were successful in my field and have the opportunity to connect,” she says. “The speakers are tailored to different majors, fields and careers, and I’m so excited to continue attending the speaker series.”

Building on a foundation of support and open dialogue, it’s certain that Patil and Hopkins’ relationship will continue to evolve, and Patil is honored to have the opportunity to serve as a mentor. “I’m passionate about helping people, so I’m always looking for ways to give back to OU,” says Patil. By the end of the school year, she hopes that some of the lessons she learned from her OU mentors will also resonate with Hopkins: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, admit when you don’t know something, and, most importantly, connect with others.