Mentor Cafe

Mentor Cafe is the career mentorship platform of Davidson Initiative and it creates an avenue for students to connect with industry professionals for the purpose of career advising. This engagement puts into perspective the myriads of opportunities in the industry and helps students to decide, define, and design their career pathway of interest.

Whether you’re a student studying at K-12, college-level, or FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) training schools; or you’re an aspiring professional with an interest in aviation and aerospace, then you are well suited for our mentoring program. The mentoring program is designed to help students to connect with industry professionals and be introduced to the plethora of opportunities in the industry.

The Mentor Cafe program has three tracks:

  • The air travel industry is rapidly growing and recent projections indicate that over 763,000 new commercial pilots will be needed to fly the world fleet over the next two decades. Whether you want to be a professional pilot or just want to fly for the love of it, our pilot track connects you with your passion for flight. The pilot track offers career guidance, free discovery flights to mentees as well as flight school enrollment information for those individuals who’d like to turn their passion into a profession.

  • The aircraft maintenance industry hires a multitude of aircraft maintenance technicians to carry out repairs and checks on airplanes. As a greater percentage of the mechanic population is due to retire soon, there is a need to train the younger generation to replenish the impending void. The industry is also experiencing a high demand for FAA-certificated mechanics and therefore the need to provide the necessary support for students in A&P schools to complete their program, join the workforce, and curb the industry shortage. Recent projections by the Boing Pilot and Technician Outlook stipulates that 739,000 new mechanics will be needed over the next 20 years to maintain the world fleet. Our role through the Maintenance Track is to promote the profession, attract the best minds, and help them start and remain on the path to success.

  • Comprising of other trades and professions in aviation, namely: avionics, air traffic control, aeronautical and mechanical engineering, aviation business, aerospace science, space, among others. Whatever the channel through which you express your passion for the industry, we are here to further your dreams.

APPLICATION

Our mentorship program is custom-made to meet the need of each mentee and is designed to help students decide, define, and design their career paths. Mentees also get to share the knowledge of industry professionals well before they join the workforce. Our mentorship program has proved to be effective; leading to the achievement of academic and career goals. The Davidson Initiative is ready to help you further your dream in aviation and we can hardly wait to engage you!

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What People Are Saying

I had always wanted to fly an airplane my whole life and flying an airplane for the first time with my mentor at the Davidson Initiative was something out of a dream. It was very important and such a milestone for me. It was impacting and helped me to put into perspective the prospects of a career as a pilot.

One thing I really admire about the Davidson Initiative is that they have a platform that encourages students and aspiring professionals to achieve their goals in aviation.

— Daeshawn Carter