Drin Kukaj, a Managing Partner at Premier Consulting Partners, has long been involved with Student Sponsor Partners. An alumnus, he has now served as a mentor for several years and recently was elected to our Board of Directors, committed to inspiring a new generation of mentors to have the same impact his mentor had on him and he is currently having on his mentee, Zaire. For the work he's done with Zaire, he was honored as a Mentor New York Mentor of the Year at an Awards Ceremony on June 21. This is the third consecutive year an SSP mentor has earned this honor!
Drin came to SSP after immigrating to the US from a then war-torn Kosovo at the age of 9. As he slowly learned English, he struggled in public school and lacked a clear direction in life. It was when he came to SSP that all that changed. He received a scholarship to attend Archbishop Stepinac High School, an all-boys school in White Plains.
During his time there, he had the support of SSP and his mentor, Bill Anderson, who Drin now joins on the SSP Board of Directors. Bill provided Drin guidance not just during his four years of high school, but the two reconnected after Drin earned a BA in Business Administration and Management from Pace University, and Bill, a Senior Managing Director at Evercore, encouraged him to pursue a career in finance, leading Drin to where he is today. That relationship inspired Drin to return to SSP as a mentor himself, connecting with Zaire during the height of the Covid pandemic.
Despite an initial inability to meet in person, Drin and Zaire managed to forge a strong connection. Drin ensured Zaire knew he was there to talk through the tough times and provide advice on how to make the most of the beginning of his high school experience. "Drin helped me to become comfortable and we started to have really deep conversations about who I want to be," Zaire said. “It gives me high hopes that I can really achieve my dreams."
Today, the pair enjoy exploring the city together and sharing Zaire’s passion for art and drawing, and Drin is committed to provide Zaire guidance and support as he researches and applies to colleges.
"If not for SSP and my mentor Bill, I don't know where I'd be—and that's exactly what I want to give to Zaire," Drin recalled. "I'm proud to be part of such an amazing organization that touches the lives of so many students in NYC and to share insight, guidance, and most importantly, support for an incredible young person. SSP has a piece of my heart. I'm grateful for SSP, and it's very much a part of me."
Want to make an impact like Drin? SSP is always in need of more caring mentors. Support our next incoming class of students by signing up to mentor at sspnyc.imentor.org.
