mentorship

Walking the Path of Mentorship: A Journey with Jacob Spencer and Amanda Walker

In the bustling world of entrepreneurship, the path to success can often feel like a solitary one. Yet, amidst the chaos of business, there exists a beacon of support and guidance: mentorship. In the EO Melbourne Mentorship Program, transformative mentor-mentee relationships illuminate the profound impact of shared experiences and mutual learning.

One such tale unfolds between Jacob Spencer, Owner & Managing Director of Mobile Skips, and his mentor, Amanda Leigh Walker, Co-founder at Lord of the Fries, a life & personal development coach for women.

Mentorship is having someone walk with you on your entrepreneurial journey

Much has been said about the entrepreneurial journey being a lonesome path, but not when you’re surrounded by like-minded individuals, such as being part of a group like EO and having someone to walk with you, such as a mentor, for instance.

This is how EO Melbourne Member and mentee Nyree Hibberd, CEO at Koh Living, and mentor Conor O’Malley, a known Executive Coach who calls himself “The CEO’s caddy”, described their mentorship experience.

The beauty in diversity: a mentorship experience

Learning comes from various things and in many ways, and oftentimes, how we differ from each other helps us widen our knowledge and understanding of the space we live in and move around. Such can be said for mentor Emma Duffy, Learning Director at ProActive Training, and mentee Hayden Brass, Founder and Managing Director of Zea.

Mentorship: it’s a two-way learning

It was a first-time for both mentee Laiken Kerr Clarke, Director at Medisound, and mentor Catherine Duncan, COO at Matthews Steer Accountants & Advisers, to take part in EO Melbourne’s Mentorship Program and both found it enjoyable. Plus, they found the program nicely structured, which allowed them to go through their objectives for this mentorship journey.

The beauty of mentorship: having someone focused on your growth

The EO Mentorship Program runs for 12 months where mentors and mentees have regular monthly catch-ups, which usually last for only an hour or more. But for mentees like Jeni Clift, Owner and Co-founder of Otto, those regular conversations with her mentor, Anthony Closter, Director at Urban Land Developments, were precious to her.

Taking mentorship to a different level the second time around

Mentorship is a significant factor in one’s entrepreneurial development. Having a guide along the challenging path of the entrepreneurial journey helps accelerate one’s growth, progress and momentum. The good thing about mentorship is that it can be done over a specific period or can be repeated at certain points of the journey or can be done continuously, depending on one’s need.

Becoming a polished gem through mentorship

Although he already has over a decade of experience running their family business, Edric Taing, CEO of SH Jewellery, still finds ways to polish himself further so that he can be a sparkling gem in the entrepreneurial space. He thought that having a mentor would help him become a finely cut entrepreneur, someone whom he could bounce ideas off, just like how a gem would bounce light to produce a beautiful masterwork.

Becoming part of EO Melbourne’s Mentorship Program, Edric found that “The biggest value for me is really being able to have a solid person to share my thoughts and ideas and current progress and also being able to talk without judgment about the challenges that are rising.”

Mentorship as a game-changer in the entrepreneurial journey

For most business owners, the entrepreneurial journey is full of challenges, but the experience is very rewarding. There are moments when they hit an obstacle or arrive at some crossroads along the way. Having someone to guide them can be a huge help in leading them where they want to go. And that’s what mentorship does.

“It's been the biggest game-changer for me,” said EO Member and Davidson Technology Consulting Director Gary Lorden regarding the EO Mentorship Program. He continued, “It has provided me with a lot of value around growth. It has added an even further challenge on how I approach things and look at things in terms of connecting the key rocks in my life.”

Mentorship: Accelerating growth by learning from others’ experiences - The Salt & Fuessel’s experience

We have always come across this quote by Jordan B. Peterson: “Experience is the best teacher, and the worst experiences teach the best lessons.” Although the hard lessons are those you experience yourself, there are ways to avoid the common pitfalls and save yourself from losing time and money by learning from the experiences of others. It can only be done if you devote enough time listening to and learning from the story and lessons of those who are ahead of you in the entrepreneurial path.

Mentorship success story: Tom Harley and Anthony Dobbyn

The entrepreneurial path is no easy feat – the complex and ever-changing business landscape can be quite critical to navigate and maneuver. For Tom Harley, Founder and CEO of Harley & Sons Roofing, “Having the right mentor is an invaluable part of success, whether it's fulfilling your personal or business goals.”

Through EO Melbourne’s Mentorship Program, Tom is grateful to have found a mentor in Anthony Dobbyn, Director – Corporate Advisory Services of Dobbyn + Carafa, whom he fondly refers to as ‘Dobbo’. Tom says that being paired with Anthony was the perfect fit. Aside from the solace he finds whenever they get together, he appreciates how Anthony brings the best out of him.

Mentorship Story: Reflecting from the rearview mirror to drive forward on the entrepreneurial highway

To be a better leader – this is the goal this year of James Murray, Founder and Managing Director of Work Healthy Australia. And for him to drive himself forward in achieving this goal, he recognises the value that the mentorship program is offering entrepreneurs like him, who aims for continuous personal and professional growth.

James is thankful to have Steve Sacks, Chairman of Sonnant, as his mentor because of the value that their relationship has brought to James’ professional development. “My journey for my self this year is to become a better leader, which means to become a better listener. Steve has been very helpful. Even if I've only changed 1% or 2%, I attribute a lot of that to some of my conversations with Steve because he's just such a good listener,” James professed.

The power of connectedness through mentorship

As a way of honouring women around the world, we celebrate every 8th of March as International Women’s Day and certain parts of the globe regard the whole of March as Women’s Month. In time for this celebration, we feature two wonderful female entrepreneurs who have led their respective lives inspiring others.

It seems like a match made in heaven for mentor Cristina Re, Director at Cristina Re Designs, and mentee Danielle Mastro, Co-founder and Director of Lights, Lights, Lights when EO Melbourne brought them together through the chapter’s Mentorship Program. Cristina and Danielle shared how their connectedness, their roles as women in the family and society, and their entrepreneurial journeys have become instrumental to their mentorship experience like pieces of fabric that create a beautiful tapestry.

A recipe to a successful mentor-mentee relationship

“Access to knowledge is easy, but access to wisdom is difficult.”

- Kym Huynh

Founder of WeTeachMe and EO Melbourne’s Past President

What is the best recipe to a successful mentorship experience? There may be many ways to make the most out of the mentorship program, but for John Paolacci, Director at KMG Advisory, and his mentee Kym Huynh, it was more than just learning how to deal with their respective businesses but it is also about enhancing their perspectives in life and contributing to their personal development.

During their most recent mentorship sessions, John invited Kym over to his house and prepared his father’s gnocchi with him. Kym watched John closely while he cooked gnocchi in his kitchen. Kym found meaning and inspiration from this experience.

The importance of mentorship in the entrepreneurial journey

The entrepreneurial path can be quite daunting for those who are contemplating to take it. But even when you’re already in the journey, there are times when the ride can be tough and you seem to be lost midway due to the pressures coming from various directions. Having a guide, someone that has been through this before, to point the way can help ease the anxiety of not knowing what lies ahead and can even be instrumental in accelerating things. This is where mentors come beneficial to one’s entrepreneurial journey.

Entrepreneurs Damian Blumenkranc, Co-Founder of Creativa, Attento, and Just Click Videos, among others, and Benjamin Trinh, Founder and Managing Director of Life Ready Health Group share that having mentors have helped them in the success of their endeavours. Apart from being on the receiving end as mentees, both have also become mentors to other entrepreneurs, helping others in their businesses as well.

Finding the right mentor for business

The challenge-laden entrepreneurial journey is not for the faint of heart. One may get lost or burdened going through it, especially for the new ones. It becomes bearable when you take it with other entrepreneurs or when there is someone who can guide you along the journey. A mentor is someone who can do that and help you get to your destination faster.