BestPrep: Cultivating Our Talent Pipeline

Travelers has been supporting BestPrep’s programs with both volunteer and financial support for approximately 20 years. BestPrep builds meaningful partnerships with schools, companies and other nonprofit partner organizations to prepare Minnesota youth for success in school, their careers and life.

Community benefits

• BestPrep’s Cloud Coach is an online mentoring program designed to motivate students to think critically about their futures and explore careers in insurance and financial services. By connecting students with professionals, the program helps to foster career awareness, skill development and long-term professional growth. Since the 2017-2018 school year (the first year of Travelers’ involvement in this program), Travelers volunteers have mentored more than 900 students participating in the Coach Cloud program. The information below was collected from the organization’s student surveys.
  • 98% of students said that their mentor treated them like they were important and valued.
  • 86% of students said that because of Cloud Coach, they know that their performance in school is important to their future success.
  • 87% of students said that because of Cloud Coach, they are thinking more about their plans after high school.
• BestPrep’s eMentors is an online mentoring program that offers high school students the opportunity to develop a relationship with a mentor in a professional field. The program empowers students through weekly one-on-one email exchanges with volunteer business mentors followed by an in-person meeting and on-site tour of our St. Paul, Minnesota, office. Travelers employees have mentored 1,500 students through the program.
  • 94% of teachers reported that through this program, their students gained a better understanding of the skills needed for a career in the professional world.
  • 87% of students reported that their knowledge of the career fields offered at their mentor’s company increased.
  • 92% of students reported that they improved their written and interpersonal communication skills.
• BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) program is a week-long summer educational experience designed to introduce high school students to the world of business and entrepreneurship. Held annually, the program provides students with the opportunity to develop their business skills through hands-on learning, mentorship and real-world business simulations. Since 2011, Travelers employees have participated as program leads for more than 45 summer sessions.
  • 98% of students reported that they developed workforce-readiness skills, including teamwork, communication and networking.
  • 97% of students reported that they now feel more motivated to take steps to achieve success in the future.
  • 100% of students were able to identify one or more financial literacy skills that they gained at MBV.

Travelers benefits

• BestPrep’s programs introduce students to Travelers as potential future employees or customers.
• Employee volunteers expressed satisfaction with the company making investments in youth, which deepens engagement and helps with retention.