Adaptability. Greater Openness. Career Confidence. These are just a few of the skills that our pilot cohort highlighted in their post-program survey. Despite being a new organization, our impact data shows the difference the Open Mindset Project can make for students and young professionals seeking to develop a global mindset and boost their career-ready skills. 

We are a nonprofit mentorship and professional development program that connects students and recent grads with accomplished mentors – our “Global Gurus” – and provides targeted skill-building courses to help them develop career-ready global competencies. 

Our model is structured, guided, and globally focused, combining algorithmic mentor-mentee matching with a defined curriculum, interactive sessions, reflection tools, and measurable outcomes.

Our vision is to make global learning accessible to every student—regardless of geography, background, or financial means—because global thinking is the foundation of leadership in the modern world. 

In just a few months, Open Mindset has gone from “what if?” to a successful pilot program that proves our globally connected learning experience works.

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Survey Results Highlight Intercultural Awareness & Mentorship 

We knew that students would benefit from participating in the Open Mindset Project. Today’s employers focus on soft skills like strong communication, networking, initiative, curiosity, intercultural skills, and global awareness. Not only are students learning these through the online modules, but also those concepts are bolstered as they meet with their Global Guru. 

However, we weren’t sure what that impact would look like for our initial students or Global Gurus. Six higher education institutions participated in the pilot cohort: Arizona State University, Babson College, Diablo Valley Community College, Oglethorpe University, Texas Woman’s University, and Towson University. Their students recognized the importance of these skills from the start. One shared that she joined the program because she “wanted to expand [her] ability to work with people from different countries and learn how to communicate effectively across cultures.”  

Over three months, 42 students received their Open Mindset Certificates, and their post-program survey results blew us away: 

• 97% learned what a global mindset is, its importance, and how to continue developing their own.
• 93% strengthened their understanding of the soft skills needed to succeed in a global or multicultural workplace.
• 97% are now confident applying their global skills to their studies and career. 
• 100% said they’d recommend the Open Mindset Project to others.

Having such a significant impact on our pilot cohort reaffirmed that this work is needed and valued! A global mindset is not the accumulation of international experiences or cultural knowledge, but a way of thinking. Our data reflects that. The students' top learning outcomes were adaptability & openness, confidence in their global skills, awareness of cultural assumptions, and greater openness & curiosity. 

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Student responses to Open Mindset Project learning indicators.

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One-on-one mentorship with an accomplished Global Guru is the Open Mindset Project's signature. When 75 mentors from across industries and careers volunteered in the first two months of our launch, we knew our mission resonated. Many Global Gurus shared stories about their own mentors and the difference they made in their studies and careers. 

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In the survey, students highlighted the added value of building a relationship with their mentor, with many remaining in contact after the program ended. Mentors teach students how to make sense of their intercultural experiences, connect those insights to their professional goals, and carry the impact into both their careers and their lives. 

“[My mentor] helped me see things from a different perspective, especially when we talked about my future career and my current internships. The guidance she gave me is something I will carry with me moving forward.” 

–Kismat Gafari, Pilot Student

‍“[My mentor helped me] think more intentionally about moments in my daily life where I demonstrated a global mindset, as well as moments where I did not. This reflection helped me become more aware of my assumptions and behaviors and showed me that developing a global mindset is an ongoing process rather than something I naturally have or do not have.” 

–Linda Li, Pilot Student

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Our results prove that mentorship drives real results, enabling greater career growth, stronger leadership, and expanded professional networks. What we did not expect was the profound impact that the program would have on the mentors themselves. Many Global Gurus shared that their mentees inspired them, revitalized their passion for global engagement, and offered perspectives they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. All our pilot Global Gurus chose to continue mentoring future cohorts.  

“Serving as a Guru on the Open Mindset Project has been an energizing reminder that leadership is a two-way exchange, sharing experience while being stretched by the curiosity of the students.” 

–Christine Brown-Quinn, Owner & Founder, The Female Capitalist, Global Guru

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Feedback from the pilot university partners also emphasized the significance of the mentor-mentee relationships in student growth.

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“From my conversations with students, it was clear that mentor-mentee pairings were intentional and thoughtfully evaluated….Students characterized the mentoring experience as ‘refreshing’, unlike any interaction possible in a traditional classroom.” 

–Margherita Pampinella, Towson University

“The Open Mindset Project puts global mindset and career development at the center of the student experience. Through this partnership, Babson’s Glavin Global Fellows benefit from a rare opportunity to engage with a Global Guru—an expert mentor who expands their perspectives and strengthens their understanding of the world they will go on to shape.” 

–Lorien Romito, Babson College

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We’ve already applied what we learned from the pilot to our Spring 2026 cohort and seen great results. We’ve helped our university partners identify how to offer the program and align it with their institutional goals, such as:

• Building it into a course on internationalization.
• Integrating into study abroad re-entry programs.
• Engaging alumni as mentors and sponsors.
• Broadening the scope of career services offerings with one-on-one mentorship from a senior-level professional.

Students are enthusiastic, with demand to participate exceeding our current capacity. We are actively seeking sponsors and donors to include more students in each cohort and to support students facing financial barriers. The fantastic results from the pilot show us that The Open Mindset Project is delivering on our mission to empower college students and young professionals with a global perspective, mentors with purpose, and organizations with the tools to help shape the future workforce.