Purpose-Driven Mentorship: An Interview with Andre Xavier Douglas
Meet Andre Xavier Douglas
Helping students find their purpose, one mentorship at a time
Andre Douglas serves as the Assistant Vice President of College, Career, & Teen Services at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. In his position, Andre oversees the Graduation Plus, Career Development, and Leadership and Service Programs. As a first-generation college student, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and received his Master of Science degree in College Personnel Administration from Concordia University-Wisconsin. He has held previous positions at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Blackhawk Technical College, and Marquette University.
Andre was recently named the National College Attainment Network Professional of the Year. In 2023, Andre and his team (Graduation Plus) were selected as the Mentoring Program of the Year by Mentor Greater Milwaukee, powered by the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2022, Andre was named the inaugural recipient of the Milwaukee Finest Scholarship Foundation Student Empowerment Award winner and the High School Counseling Professional of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of College Admissions Counselors. In 2021, Andre was named the Distinguished Leader Award winner by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Greater Milwaukee Chapter.
In his spare time, Andre is a volunteer at his church (Evolve Church under the leadership of Pastor Kenneth Lock II), hosts a podcast with his lifelong best friends, and is an avid Milwaukee Bucks fan. A Champion for students and education evangelist, Andre has committed his career and life to helping students create opportunities as they strive to develop their mission and purpose.
What is the best advice you could give your younger self upon beginning your career?
Gain as much as experience as possible.
Serve in multiple internships before jumping into your perceived career field.
Shadow, take meetings, and ask a lot of questions.
The FGPM first generation membership intends to pursue professional life after completion of their studies, or are just beginning their professional journeys after graduation. How can our young professionals can stand out, or excel, in the workplace?
Networking is a powerful tool, from LinkedIn to community events, to engagement with your employers! Show up, leave the office, and build community without our city. Milwaukee has much to offer, and the professional community is striving and thriving.
Join professional organizations, find volunteer opportunities for professionals, and learn how to network using your social media channels.
How can our young professionals cultivate the most value from networking?
Take meetings, go to lunches, have coffee. After you have met with the person you have networked with, send them a hand-written thank you card. This seems old and outdated, but it will add a lot of value and appreciation to the receiver.
The modern workplace enjoys several generations of coworkers, showcasing a variety of perspectives and priorities. What do you wish the generations ahead of you, and behind you, knew?
Things change, and not everything is meant to stay the same.
Sometimes we like to use the saying “ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Sometimes, we need to create it, break it, and build it back up to something great. Be open to new ideas, be adaptive to change, and approach situations with positive intent.
One of the founding tenets of FGPM is the value of mentorship. Why would you say mentorship important is to you?
Mentoring changed my life. Mentorship allowed me to see areas of growth, connecting me in circles that I could never imagine, and defined my abilities to be a networker.
Advice for mentors: don’t always tell your mentees what you think they want to hear. Encourage them, yes! But also, be honest because without honesty, growth can be crippled and challenging.
For mentees, have multiple mentors. One that looks like you, one that doesn’t, and one that’s in your professional space. Don’t assume that your boss or supervisor is your mentor. Seek guidance and direction, but also have that trusted mentor outside of your workplace who can serve as your mentor.
What does being a first generation professional mean to you?
Being a first-generation professional means that I have achieved some level of success. It means that all the hard work from college and graduate school has paid off. It also means that my family and my village have played a huge role in my development and successes.
It means that giving back is not a suggestion, it is a command. People often say, don’t forget where you come from. I say, don’t forget to give back to where you came from. Both are important.
and finally, What do you love about Milwaukee?
I love the people in Milwaukee. One of the things that I always say, is the best thing about Milwaukee, is its people. There are generous and kind people here. We have growing talent in our teens and college students who are looking for the opportunity to be great and to takeover from us one day. I also love my church, Evolve Church, The Milwaukee Admirals, and of course the Milwaukee Bucks! We have beautiful golf courses, the State Fair, and my favorite season, summer! You can’t beat a summer in Milwaukee.
Find Andre on LinkedIn.
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