Advisory5 × Dean's Innovation Ecosystem

Written By Igor Gorlatov

We've just launched our partnership with Barton College's School of Business and Innovation, bringing entrepreneurial energy and professional mentorship to faculty and student-led initiatives in Eastern North Carolina.

Igor Gorlatov, Founder @ Advisory5 and Innovator-in-Residence at Barton and Dean Dr. Ken Russell, School of Business and Innovation, Barton College

The Model: Real projects. Real mentors. Real impact. We call it Dean’s Innovation Ecosystem.

Each initiative operates with founder ownership and professional backing, bridging the gap between academic theory and market reality. Industry professionals guide teams through 8-week project cycles, providing biweekly support, connections, and real-world perspective—without creating administrative burden for faculty or bottlenecks for students.

Why This Works: Initiatives scale independently with their own mentor teams. No central infrastructure needed per project—just plug in mentors and launch.

How to Get Involved

For Mentors

Support initiatives that matter—on your schedule.

  • Commitment: 8 weeks / 4 mentoring sessions per initiative

  • Format: Bi-weekly video calls with initiative teams

  • Plus: Monthly mentor network meetings to share insights and connect with peers

  • Impact: Guide student and faculty teams as they build real ventures with real outcomes

What you bring: Your experience, connections, and perspective from industry. You don't manage—you mentor.

Apply to Become a Mentor →

For Initiative Leaders (Mentees)

Have an idea that could benefit Barton? Launch it with support.

  • Who can apply: Students, faculty, alumni, and community members

  • Criteria: Your initiative should serve Barton College and its community

  • What you get: Professional mentorship, structured support, and resources to bring your idea from concept to launch

  • Timeline: 8-week project cycles with clear milestones

Examples of active initiatives:

  • Undergraduate Research Journal

  • AI & Financial Literacy Outreach

  • Data Analytics Consortiums

  • Industry Partnership Projects

Propose Your Initiative →

Why Join?

For Mentors: Build relationships that matter. Guide the next generation. Join a network of engaged professionals making real impact in academic innovation.

For Initiative Leaders: Get experienced guidance without the bureaucracy. Own your project. Build something real with professional backing.

For Barton College: Transform ideas into impact through structured support that scales.

Questions?

Dean's Innovation Ecosystem Contact:
Dean Dr. Ken Russell: kerussell@barton.edu

Advisory5 Contact:
Igor Gorlatov, Innovator in Residence at Barton College
igor@gorlatov.com | 646.923.0679

Igor Gorlatov
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