Nicole Jenkins and Ruth Moncrieff have participated in the Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s MentorNet Program. For more information on mentoring, please click here.
The Mentoree: Nicole Jenkins
Company: Circa Vintage Clothing
Why did you become a mentoree? I became a mentoree because I wanted to expand my business knowledge, fill in skill gaps and meet women who were also in a similar place with their business.
What were you hoping to get from the experience? As well as learning, I wanted to receive critical feedback about my business practices and policies from experienced professionals.
What is the biggest challenge of being a mentoree? As a busy woman, I found the biggest challenge was allocating the time required for the weekly sessions and preparation/homework. At times I found this very difficult and fell behind.
What is the most powerful thing you’ve learned? That I already have most of the skills needed – the MentorNet scheme helped me consolidate my skills and become more goal and results focused.
What marketing and branding outcomes have occurred for you since being in the program? After feedback from my mentoring pod, I redesigned aspects of my website to be more user-friendly and boost subscriber numbers. Marketing and branding is essential for my retail business so most marketing and branding decisions had been made before I joined MentorNet, during the development stage, but it was great having an opportunity to discuss tactics with my mentor and fellow mentorees.
What would you say to anyone considering being a Mentoree in the MentorNet program? It’s well worth doing at any stage of your business development, especially in the first year. To get the most out of it, I recommend completing all case studies and preparation prior to the sessions and sharing all issues during your fortnightly mentor pod sessions.
Any additional comments? I found the sessions with my fellow pod members and mentor to be especially useful. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the MentorNet program.
The Mentor: Ruth Moncrieff
Company: Insight Action
Why did you become a mentor? I had returned to Sydney after living and working on the Central Coast for many years delivering training, development and employment services to the Commonwealth Government. My personal experience starting two of my own businesses from scratch, as well as advising others how to start and build their new businesses (we delivered the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) for three years), gave me the background and experience to confidently offer my time as a mentor for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network (now HerBusiness).
What were you hoping to get from the experience? Having been away from Sydney for so long, I was looking for an opportunity to expand my business network as well as gain experience with teleconferencing and web-based learning. What is the biggest challenge of being a mentor? Identifying opportunities for mentorees but having to wait until they see them for themselves. Otherwise – it’s great and not a challenge for me at all.
What is the most powerful thing you’ve learned? It doesn’t matter what you offer to your mentorees – advice, information or tools to facilitate their learning, they will only listen and assimilate information into their own world when they recognise its value. The trick is being able to help them see the value of what you are offering, while not taking it personally if they choose not to use it.
How has Mentoring helped you with marketing and branding? Not sure yet.
What would you say to anyone considering being a Mentor in the MentorNet program? That, providing you don’t see yourself as ‘the expert’, you will learn as much from the people you mentor as they will learn from you.
