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Home > Entrepreneurship > Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs Program > Program Overview

Program Overview

The 12-month program features a series of professional development workshops, mentoring and multiple networking opportunities. The outline below provides an overview of the year.

Orientation Breakfast

The program begins in January with an orientation breakfast. Protégés have the opportunity to meet mentors and network with their fellow classmates. A comprehensive orientation is conducted at this time for both the program protégés and mentors.

Business-to-Business Mentoring

Each protégé is assigned two business mentors the week following orientation. Protégés are expected to meet with their mentors a minimum of four times throughout the course of the program to discuss the protégé’s business, objectives and ideas for existing or new business plans.

Business Development and Skill-Building Sessions

A series of business development and skill building sessions are held monthly beginning in February on the third Wednesday of each month (calendar to be provided at orientation). Topics include accessing capital, marketing, human resources, business plan writing, time management, presentational skills, basic finance and accounting, and IT networks.

Evaluation and Final Presentation

The final activity of the program is the completion of a revised or newly developed business plan. A final business development session is held to report protégé progress to a team of judges. Judges evaluate each protégé’s plan and class progress throughout the program as evidenced through their participation and mentor reports. All protégés are required to participate in this final session to receive a certificate of program completion.

Graduation and Awards Dinner

Each protégé and mentor is recognized for their participation in the program. The Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year and Mentor Team of the Year is named at this event. The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year is given a $1,500 check, a plaque and his or her photo featured in a half-page Business First ad. The selection of the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year is based on an evaluation of all new and revised business plans and final presentations. Awards for second and third place are also announced at this time.