Serve as a Mentor for The Toy Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Program
September 30, 2024 | The Toy Foundation™ (TTF) is calling on toy industry professionals of all specialties to serve as a mentor for its upcoming Collegiate Case Study Competition with the University of Maryland (UofM). Part of TTF’s Talent Pipeline Program, the competition engages a diverse cohort of students who develop a unique play product and launch strategy.
Serving as a mentor is simple and convenient. TTF will host a weekly Zoom meeting for the participating students and available mentors to meet in private breakout rooms, workshop the students’ product concepts, and discuss strategies to make the product successful. Following the weekly sessions, all active mentors are invited to serve on the judging panel and determine the competition winner.
“Serving as a mentor is an opportunity to help shape the future of the toy industry,” said Jay Dotson, senior director of talent management at Jazwares and active mentor. “The last group of students was inspiring; I am looking forward to seeing what this next group of students comes up with!”
The competition is an extracurricular activity for students of a variety of academic focuses and personal backgrounds who are interested in exploring the toy industry as a potential career path. The Collegiate Case Study Competition at UofM has taken place every fall and spring semester for the last three years; industry involvement has resulted in more than 250 students receiving mentorship and companies extending eight internship and job opportunities.
“As a pre-law major, I never considered working with toys, which would be really cool. This competition opened my eyes to all the opportunities where I can apply my degree,” shared a UofM student participant.
Toy professionals in marketing, human resources, law, and more have participated in the program since it began, from companies including Bandai Namco and Jazwares, year-round supporters of the program, Beacon Media Group, Crazy Aaron’s, Horizon Group, In Kidz, Mattel, Paramount, Target, Thames & Kosmos, The Walt Disney Company, and Women in Toys.
To learn more and serve as a mentor, contact TTF staff. To learn more about the Talent Pipeline Program and see previous competition winners, visit ToyFoundation.org.