Industry Advisors needed - please click here for more information.
 
Over the past 24 years, more than 4,000 students have participated in Business Horizons. This is a unique professional development opportunity that can’t be missed. 

Business Horizons brings together young people, educators and business professionals from across the state to translate textbook theories into understandable business practices. Business Horizons is a week-long learning experience designed to teach high school students about entrepreneurship and our American free enterprise system. Students learn what it takes to be successful from the classroom to the boardroom. Business Horizons relies heavily on the support of volunteers to carry out our mission.  

The Role of the Industry Advisor

Industry Advisors are business professionals who volunteer for a full week to guide a group of 10-12 students through an interactive business simulation. Industry Advisors play the most important role in the success of the program. Not only do they serve as role models from the community, they also develop a personal connection with the students that will help inspire them into the future.

As an Industry Advisor you will mentor your company as your students elect officers, make decisions for a simulated business, brainstorm ideas for an imaginary business venture, develop leadership skills and begin to work as a cohesive team. You will support your team as they navigate their way through a series of challenges, all designed to introduce students to the REAL world of business.  All Industry Advisors are provided extensive training and mentoring throughout the week.  All materials and curriculum are provided.

Infomercial Judges:  Marketing presentations are prepared by the students to demonstrate how they will market their products. They will be judged on creativity, strategy, clarity of message and overall effectiveness or their approach.

Investor Judges:  Investor presentations focus on the company’s financial performance and how well the students can articulate what they’ve learned during the week about the operations of a company and how it relates to business in general.

Trade Show Judges:  The trade show is where students will showcase their company’s performance, and its product and service. The objective is to convince investors that their company would be a good investment based on their critical analysis of the market demand, target audience, and profitability of the venture.

Support for Industry Advisors

Mentor Program: In most cases a new Industry Advisor will be paired with a veteran Industry Advisor who will provide support and guidance prior to and during the program. At Industry Advisor training, you will meet your partner and have an opportunity to discuss any questions, concerns and program issues.

Advisor’s Advisor: Business Horizons will hold daily Industry Advisor meetings to discuss schedule changes, address program issues and resolve problems. The Advisors will be available to answer questions and provide support throughout the week. By working closely with you, the Advisor will ensure that your company is fulfilling the requirements of the program and meeting all of the expectations set forth in the weekly schedule. 

Business Horizons Staff and Student Ambassadors: Staff and student assistants work diligently behind-the-scenes to ensure that every element of the program is executed successfully. During the year, the staff creates and nurtures the program and then turns it over to a group of dedicated volunteers to carry out the mission of the organization. 

Do Volunteers say the experience is a success?

“I have gone through BH as an Industry Advisor twice and watched my daughter grow because of the experience.  I think the two best transformations I see in all the students attending this program is a new found belief that regardless of the student's skill sets -- there is a place for them to be happy and successful in the business world and a new found appreciation of Iowa businesses!  I believe this is the best program a high school student could enroll in.”    
Tom McMahon
Vice President
Barker Company, Ltd.
Keosauqua

Industry Advisor Opportunities – Program Specific Information

Time Commitment
While being a Industry Advisor is an incredibly rewarding experience, it can also be exhausting. Business Horizons takes place on the campus of Simpson College in Indianola. Industry Advisors can stay in housing nearby and are expected to arrive on the Saturday morning before the program begins and stay through the following Friday afternoon during the student programming time.  This generally runs between 8am and 7-8pm.

Training
Business Horizons requires new Industry Advisors to attend one full-day training three to four weeks prior to the program as well as a day of training on campus the Saturday before the program begins. These sessions will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the Business Horizons experience, as well as offer the tools, skills and knowledge needed to guide your team through the week.  See the sample agenda to get a sense of what will take place during the week. If additional training is required, the Business Horizons staff is happy to help at any time.