Give back…and get big rewards, too!
You can give back to your business community, inspire others …and yourself. And, all you need to spend is a little of your time.
Business mentoring – offering the next generation of entrepreneurs the benefit of your expertise and experience is an honoured tradition in the business community world-wide. Opportunities to be a business mentor in Durham abound.
Think back to your own beginnings in business. Chances are you had one or more mentors who helped you leap the inevitable hurdles, avoid the pitfalls and bridge the gaps in knowledge, skills and experience that are part of becoming a successful business professional and entrepreneur. This summer, you can pay it forward by playing a part in creating Durham’s business leaders of the future.
Just 5 hours of your time makes a lifetime of difference.
Summer Company is an innovative program sponsored by the government of Ontario and coordinated in the Durham region by the BACD Business Advisory Centre Durham. Designed to inspire young people, ages 15-29, to consider entrepreneurship as a career option, the program provides awards up to $3000 to help cover the costs of business start-up and training to provide the knowledge, skills and practical hands-on experience they need to succeed.
Mentoring is a vital part of the Summer Company program. Contributing a minimum of 5 hours over the summer months of May through August, Summer Company volunteer mentors provide advice, guidance and support to youth staring their first business.
It makes all the difference. To a person, the student entrepreneurs cite the help of their mentor as the most important factor in the success of their venture.
As a mentor, you gain, too.
Guiding and coaching a young entrepreneur is a rewarding experience for the mentor, too. Summer Company mentors report that they get great satisfaction in supporting the success of a young entrepreneur. Mentors also benefit from the education and development they receive from BACD as coaches and from connections they make with other mentors and the broader business community through the association with BA CD and the Summer Company program.
Don’t think you’re ready to advise anyone? Think again.
Years of experience aren’t the determining factor in being an effective mentor. Business acumen and strong communication are. A mentor’s role is definitely to give advice and guidance but listening to understand concerns, then asking questions to help your protégé think through the issue to a solution is also important to being an effective mentor .
If you would like to learn more about being a Summer Company volunteer Mentor , contact Wenda Abel, 905-668-4949 X 226 for more information .
ARE YOU READY TO FACE THE DRAGONS?
