Mission
To promote the value of higher education, the Kagle Leadership Initiatives (KLI) provides Flint community students and families opportunities to engage in various enriching activities with students of Kettering University.
Vision
The Kagle Leadership Initiatives (KLI) is devoted to the belief that nurturing academic excellence, urban leadership qualities and civic engagement to all involved will foster urgency regarding the idea that all young people have the potential to be great leaders. We envision an increased number of college graduates from the Flint community through the involvement of Kettering University students and their commitment to dedicated, motivational and fulfilling mentoring relationships and activities. This experience will be a foundation by which future urban leaders and mentors will evolve to continue the practice of aiding youth through everyday challenges of academics, the community and the global society.
Our History
Through a generous gift to Kettering University by Flint native and GMI (1976) alumnus, Robert C. Kagle, we are able to provide this mentoring program to make all students a success.
Bob Kagle was raised by a single mother in Flint, Michigan. She worked hard, for 37 years, on a General Motors production line. Bob's mom gave him a work ethic; GM helped Bob through school as an engineer at Kettering University (formerly known as GMI Institute). Graduate school at Stanford taught Bob about business and today, as one of America's premier venture capitalists with Benchmark Capital in Silicon Valley, thousands of startups each year seek Bob's counsel and investment.
With over 20 years of venture capital investment experience, Bob is a veteran of the venture industry. Prior to Benchmark, Bob spent 12 years as a General Partner with Technology Venture Investors. Before TVI, Bob worked for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) where he focused on issues of corporate strategy in industries ranging from retail distribution to high technology manufacturing.
Investments: AllPosters.com, Ariba (ARBA), Art.com (acquired by Getty Images), eBags, eBay (EBAY), E-Loan (EELN), Friendster, Get2Chip (acquired by Cadence), Jamba Juice, LogoWorks, PeopleSupport (PSPT), Potbelly, Synopsys, uShip, WorldWinner.com, Zipcar and zipRealty (ZIPR).
Industry Associations: Bob is a past director of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), a past president of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC) and chairman of the board of trustees of Kettering University.
Education: MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, 1980, General Motors Fellow; BS in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from General Motors Institute (renamed Kettering University), 1976, Sobey Scholar.
Mentoring is about guiding, advising and role modeling. It is a partnership based on respect and focused on promoting personal and academic development. It is a relationship that will change over time as each person grows, learns and gains experience. It is the hope that through KLI, students who are involved will have additional skills and assets because of the various activities that they are involved with.
