Citizens Business Bank has been a Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire mentorship partner, driving workforce success for over seven years.
Contributing over $120,000 and creating 55+ mentoring matches, their commitment has empowered future college grads, finance leaders, and entrepreneurs through the Workplace Mentoring Program.
It started in 2018 when Citizens Business Bank (CBB) first collaborated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire (BBBS) to inspire young women at Ontario High School to explore careers in finance. During the pandemic, they adapted seamlessly to virtual mentoring, ensuring support continued during a time of isolation and disconnection in both schools and workplaces alike. In 2023, CBB became the first cohort in our Postsecondary Workplace Mentoring program, helping college students from underserved communities transition into the workforce.
Scott Carlson, Deputy Director of Development at BBBS, recently sat down with Jess Tirado, CBB’s Vice President and 2024 Workplace Mentoring Mentor of the Year, to discuss the impact of the partnership, CBB’s dedication to mentorship, and the transformative outcomes for mentees and mentors alike.
SCOTT CARLSON:
What first appealed to you about BBBS’ Workplace Mentoring Program, and why have you continued the program since?
JESS TIRADO:
The appeal for me is that Big Brothers Big Sisters has been doing mentoring for over 100 years. The Workplace Mentoring Program is an offshoot of all that wisdom and experience. We keep coming back because no other organization does it better.
SCOTT:
How does the program align with your company’s values or regional goals?
JESS:
One of Citizens Business Bank’s values is “superior people.” You cannot become a bank celebrating its 50th Anniversary, like we are, without attracting and retaining top talent. Helping the bank’s associates grow and develop, through training and mentorship, has been one of the keys to the bank’s success.
SCOTT:
January is National Mentoring Month, where we celebrate the impact of mentorship and share stories to raise awareness. What impact have you seen on young people going through the CBB cohort? What do CBB employees get out of it as mentors?
JESS:
For mentees, they learn and understand the different employment opportunities that exist at a bank. It’s not just tellers and bankers. By working with and talking to their mentors, they gain a whole new perspective on careers, professional development, and what it takes to be a successful adult in the real world. For CBB mentors, it’s an opportunity to pay it forward because we have all had mentors that have made a huge impact on our personal and professional lives.
SCOTT:
How has mentorship shaped your professional or personal growth?
JESS:
I tell my mentees that I am going to learn as much from them as they are going to learn from me. If you approach it with that mindset, you are going to keep up with the younger generations, see life from a different perspective, and continue to grow as a human being.
SCOTT:
Some of the metrics behind the impact of Workplace Mentoring are impressive: mentored students report a 15 – 20% earnings increase in adulthood—outpacing federal workforce programs. Similarly, over 75% of participants credit their mentors with improving their career planning and educational persistence, directly contributing to job placement and retention within the region. Does this data surprise you? How do these outcomes align with what you’ve observed in the CBB cohorts?
JESS:
The data does not surprise me. Anyone who is willing to take a mentoring relationship seriously, anyone who wants to learn from other people’s mistakes, anyone who is open to the idea that they don’t know it all—that person is going to be a success.
SCOTT:
What advice would you offer to a company interested in launching a Workplace Mentoring Program with their employees?
JESS:
The time and effort are worth it. The difference you can make in a young person’s life is unbelievable. And it will change your life as well.
SCOTT:
Jess, thank you so much for your ongoing support and dedication! As you said, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Workplace Mentoring Program opens doors for young people while enriching the lives of mentors. It’s not only an investment in the future but also a transformative experience for all involved. And thank you to Citizens Business Bank for continuing to be a mentorship partner driving workforce success.
