Ladies‚ wondering how much a mentor can really grow your business? Apparently quite a lot
What kind of return on their investment can entrepreneurs look forward to if they participate in a mentorship programme? According to the Cherie Blair Foundation‚ quite a bit of bang for your buck.The foundation runs a global online mentoring programme to empower women entrepreneurs.Speaking in Johannesburg on Thursday‚ Cherie Blair‚ the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair‚ said she was immensely proud of the programme's 230 South African mentees‚ the largest number in any place.In a report on the programme's impact‚ launched at the event‚ its participants revealed the following: - 96% of mentees reported gaining confidence‚ - 92% of mentees reported gaining skills that helped them in their businesses‚ - 76% of mentees reported an increase in revenue‚ - 80% of mentees said that they had passed along what they had learned to others in their communities‚ - 50% of the mentees are going on to mentor others‚- 93% of mentors in the programme said that the mentoring experience had impacted their own personal and professional development‚ - and 66% of mentors said that it had helped them gain skills and knowledge.The programme was first piloted in 2010 and has since supported 2‚000 women entrepreneurs in over 90 developing countries.It uses technology to offer women cross-border support‚ connecting them with mentors in business from around the world.Of the 106 South African mentees to graduate from the programme‚ 94% said their confidence had increased and 96% said their business skills had grown.Blair said the programme pairs people strategically. “We don't just throw people together. It's not a dating agency.”Local mentee and engineer Queen Mokulubete was paired with mentor Shanda Guard‚ a banking executive in the USA.Mokulubete‚ who in 2014 launched her niche engineering company‚ said being mentored gave her confidence‚ the ability to promote her business and the know-how to set clear goals and specific timeframes.“[Shanda's support] has taken a huge weight off my shoulders and helped me to focus my energies.”..
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