We were lucky to catch up with Khayla Mcclinton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Khayla, appreciate you joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

The McClinton Scholars Mentoring Program is dedicated exclusively to supporting undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds, including those facing challenges related to race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Founded by Khayla McClinton, the program was born out of her own experiences as a first-generation college student navigating college and career development without a direct support system.

Khayla’s journey was marked by struggles in identifying career paths, building professional skills, understanding the intricacies of corporate and academic environments, and exploring graduate school options. After countless hours of research, attending workshops, networking with community leaders, and tracking trends, she began to find clarity in her career vision. As her skills grew and she achieved personal milestones, other students began seeking her advice.

Initially, Khayla addressed questions via emails and brief calls. However, as the volume of inquiries increased, she realized that students needed more comprehensive support. A passing remark to friends—”These students need a full-blown mentorship”—planted the seed for what would become the McClinton Scholars Mentoring Program. Inspired during a graduate course on nonprofits, she developed a curriculum, consulted trusted mentors, and launched the program. Within months, she had tested the concept with a pilot group, refined the curriculum, and assembled a team of mentors, just as she was completing her Masters Degree.

Why Focus on Underrepresented Students?
McClinton Scholars specifically targets underrepresented students because they often face unique challenges, including being the first in their families to attend college. These students frequently balance academics with work responsibilities, limiting their ability to participate in extracurricular activities, networking events, and other opportunities critical for professional growth.

Khayla understands these struggles intimately and recognized the disparity in access to resources. She firmly believes that every student deserves access to the knowledge, mentorship, and support needed to succeed before they graduate.

What the Program Offers
The McClinton Scholars Mentoring Program is designed to meet students where they are, providing tailored mentorship that aligns with their goals and areas of interest. Key features include:

Flexible Mentorship: Students control their relationship with mentors, ensuring it fits their schedules and needs.
Career Development: The curriculum addresses individual goals, offering insights into industry trends and professional pathways.
Networking Opportunities: Scholars connect with industry professionals and peers to build their networks and explore potential opportunities.
Safe Spaces: The program fosters an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance.
Free Participation: The program is offered at no cost, removing financial barriers to access.

McClinton Scholars is committed to ensuring that underrepresented students receive the attention, resources, and mentorship they need to thrive. Our goal is to make every scholar feel seen, motivated, and supported as they work toward their academic and professional aspirations.

By bridging the gap in access to resources and empowering students with the tools to succeed, the McClinton Scholars Mentoring Program is helping shape a future where every student has an equal chance to achieve their dreams.

Khayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

McClinton Scholars was founded because there was a clear need for the type of support we offer to students. We are working to address a lack of resources, a lack of community, and a lack of shared knowledge and guidance.

One key aspect that sets the McClinton Scholars Mentoring Program apart from other mentoring programs is its customized and student-driven approach. While many mentoring programs provide structured, one-size-fits-all guidance, McClinton Scholars tailors the mentorship experience to meet each student’s unique goals, interests, and circumstances.

The program doesn’t just mentor students—it creates a community where they are seen, supported, and provided with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. McClinton Scholars bridges gaps in knowledge and access, ensuring students from marginalized backgrounds can achieve their goals and thrive in spaces where they have historically been underrepresented.

We are most proud of the amount of students we have been able to serve and the impact we are making within our community.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Growing McClinton Scholars has been an exciting and rewarding journey, but we are financially limited. For the past few years, McClinton Scholars has operated as a community organization, fully funded through donations and the support of its founder.

As we transition into becoming a nonprofit organization, we are proud to have built a strong reputation that has attracted partnerships with other organizations. We’ve managed secure a few small sponsorships, helping to expand our impact. However, we recognize this is not sustainable long-term.

To ensure the program’s continued growth and success, we are working toward securing grant funding and building relationships with new sponsors. This will allow us to reach even more students, provide them with the resources they deserve, and make a lasting difference in the communities we serve.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

The majority of our mentors are incredible individuals from Ms. Khayla’s network who were eager to support students, as well as professionals who learned about the program and felt inspired to contribute. Over the years, these mentors have been the backbone of McClinton Scholars, generously dedicating their time to hosting workshops and mini-seminars that empower and educate our students.

The program simply wouldn’t be possible without their commitment, expertise, and passion. They are the heart of McClinton Scholars, and their impact is deeply valued and cherished by everyone involved in our mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: MccScholars,org
• Instagram: McClintonScholars
• Linkedin: https://Linkedin.com/Khayla-McClinton