Mentoring is a globally recognised tool for students, offering a trustfull partnership with mentors – professionals in the field – actively share their knowledge and help the student to meet academic and professional challenges.
The mentoring programme offers the student an experienced person, usually an entrepreneur, who dedicates time and expertise to support, guide and advise. This collaboration enables the student to set and achieve goals.
The benefits of mentoring for students:
- Practical experience and contacts: mentoring gives students real experience and valuable contacts, enriching their understanding beyond theory.
- Accelerated professional development: Students who choose mentoring accelerate their professional development by learning from the experience of experienced mentors.
- Self-assessment: Mentoring stimulates self-assessment, enabling students to evaluate their abilities and overcome both academic and everyday challenges.
Each year RISEBA offers students the opportunity to participate in Speed Dating with a mentor to find the most suitable mentor for future collaboration.
RISEBA students currently have access to more than 80 mentors from different sectors and fields of activity.
We invite you to get to know some of the RISEBA mentors:
Aiva Spuņģe
Mentor’s experience:
Senior Executive – Member of the Board of Directors, Company Director for more than 10 years with experience in private and public sector, new business launches, strategic, operational and corporate management, as well as marketing. Graduated from RISEBA Master’s programme “Strategic Business Management”.
Mentor are passionate about continuous growth both professionally and personally and would be happy to support RISEBA students in the early stages of their careers.
Mentor provides support on the following topics: management issues and decision making; change management in challenging circumstances; goal setting, marketing and branding; media and public relations, corporate and individual development; human management – talent, motivation, communication; career development; self-development and various techniques to achieve personal needs.
Possible forms of cooperation: remote consultations in Latvian or English.
Anna Allena
Mentor’s experience:
Graduate of RISEBA distance learning Bachelor’s degree programme in “Business Administration”, continues her studies in Master’s degree programme in “Business Administration”. More than 10 years working in a public institution. Anna is ambitious and self-growth-oriented, annually participates in the International Conference of Students’ Scientific Research and Artistic Creativity “Changing World – In Search of New Solutions” with her scientific research. Outside her studies, she attends additional educational courses in public procurement, personnel management, psychology, coaching, occupational safety.
Support offered by the mentor: the mentor will provide encouragement, moral support to older students (30+) but would be open to communication with younger students. Based on personal experience, she is aware that older students find it difficult to start their studies and are reluctant to continue at the first sign of difficulty. In this case, the student needs a shoulder to lean on, a push, or even a hint to overcome the difficulties, but maybe just a chat over a virtual cup of tea.
Motto: “You’re never too old to learn something new!”
Possible forms of cooperation: remotely – Whatsapp, Zoom, e-mail, in Latvian or Russian
Viktorija Mihaļčuka
Mentoring experience:
More than 13 years of business experience – Nordic Group business training and gamification company, (practicals.net/lv), educational game invention, production and training. Positions in the company – PR Director, Sales Manager, Chairman of the Board. Currently member of the Board of the Latvian Football Federation. She runs a private practice – Certified Supervisor, Supervisory Consultant; Organisational, Business and Management Psychologist (sports, education, business).
- Latvian Football Federation (lff.lv; since 2018), position in the past – Head of Administration
- Graduated from RISEBA programmes “Business Psychology”; “Management Psychology and Supervision”; Currently studying at RISEBA PhD programme “New Media and Creative Technologies”.
- Graduated from UEFA Academy programmes: “Certificate Football Management” UEFA CFM, “Women Football Leadership Programme” UEFA/FIFA WFLP; IMD Business School (Switzerland, Lousanne).
- Member of LSA (Latvian Association of Supervisors), LSPA (Latvian Association of Sport Psychology), LOPB (Latvian Society of Organizational Psychologists), UEFA Academy Alumni.
Motto: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” (Oscar Wilde).
Possible forms of cooperation: in person and remotely, in Latvian, English, Russian.
Kaspars Gaļimovs
Mentor’s experience:
CEO of CostPocket startup in Latvia. Graduated from RISEBA with a Professional Bachelor’s degree in “Business Organisation and Management”. Mentor enjoys developing projects with significant added value, especially if they are related to technology solutions. Working endlessly on oneself towards the best version of oneself is an integral part of everyday life.
Mentor provides support on the following topics: self-growth, self-understanding, knowing what not to do in business, what to do in business, how not to get lost in the city nightlife, career building, overcoming fears, how to learn to respect yourself, developing self-confidence, ego control, I can probably also help with contacts and career development opportunities.
Possible forms of cooperation: both in person and remotely, in Latvian, English and Russian