At Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI), we are excited to be bringing back our Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs this year!
On 9 September, we kick-started the program with a two-part training session for this cohort of mentors. Through interactive discussions and relevant case studies, we helped the mentors-in-training build the personal skills and technical skills essential to being an effective mentor.
Meet the Mentors
Diverse in gender, race, culture, and expertise, the 2023 cohort of 11 mentors are:
- Jhanvi Panjabi: CEO and Founder of Eternity Jewels HK and Anvi Candles
- Cameron van Breda: CEO and Co-founder of Hollo
- Naman Tekriwal: Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Breer Limited
- Asmita Bharadwaj Das: Founder of Asmita Das Photography
- Alicia Beale: Co-founder and Managing Director of The Aftermath
- Ahmed Anis Ben Slimane: Co-founder of WBC Digital Solutions
- Wilson Tai: Co-founder of FundFluent
- Anushka Purohit: Co-founder and CEO of Breer Limited
- Bosco Ng: Founder and Director of WEDO Global
- Innocent Mutanga: Founder and Director of Africa Center Hong Kong
- James Cunningham: Director of Sustainability at Sun Wood Company Ltd
An Interactive Training Day for Mentors
Bringing along their respective experiences in founding and managing socially impactful businesses, the mentors-in-training learnt about their responsibilities in providing practical support to the mentees’ professional and entrepreneurial development in the coming months, as well as the personal skills necessary to being an effective mentor.
Over an interactive group discussion, the mentors took turns to share their own experiences related to resilience and grit, overcoming challenges, and tackling cultural barriers. For example, some discussed the loneliness one often feels as a solo and/or early-stage entrepreneur, especially in challenging times. The mentors were also asked to reflect on the traits exhibited by their mentors that were essential to trust-building. A key quality agreed by most is cultural senstivity, and the self-awareness of biases.
However, just as important to effective mentorship is having the right technical skills. Here, we shared with the mentors FSI’s knowledge and resources on four main areas: ideation and brainstorming; goal-setting frameworks; business planning and strategies; and tools for communication and productivity. As the mentors articulated their thought processes, their also took the opportunity to reflect on these four aspects in their own entrepreneurial journey. The aim was to equip the mentors with an open-mindedness and non-judgemental mindset, so that they can guide their mentees through challenges towards success.
Mentors’ Knowledge Put to the Test
In order to ensure the mentors’ readiness as a good mentor, we sought their thoughts on three case studies, each depicting a likely scenario in their upcoming mentorship journey, each testing their grasp of the knowledge they gained on this training day. “The case studies were good practices for potential issues that may arise,” said Cameron van Breda, Co-founder and CEO of Hollo.
Overall, the mentors found the training helpful. By the end of the session, many mentors had a new-found confidence in being a good, effective mentor.
Said Jhanvi Panjabi, CEO and Founder of Eternity Jewels HK and Anvi Candles, who found the session immensely informative: “From today’s training session, I learnt how to manage expectations and set clear guidelines in order to make the most of this mentorship opportunity. I hope to share some of my expertise and experiences with somebody else who is starting up like I did a couple of years ago. I’m blown away by the opportunities that are available through FSI to create shared impact. I’m excited to be part of this initiative, so thank you for this amazing opportunity!”
“I was really looking forward to doing this mentor training session and I have to say it really exceeded my expectations,” said Asmita Bharadwaj Das, Founder of Asmita Das Photography. “Vivian and Dani made sure the session is very interactive and engaging, with lots of tools and knowledge being shared, which I’m not just going to share with my mentee but also to apply to my day-to-day work as well.”
On 23 September, these mentors will meet their mentees in person for the first time and work together in a design thinking workshop. At FSI, we wish them the best of luck, and we are excited to see their personal and professional growth as they help their fellow entrepreneurs navigate various challenges and build resilience in the next six months!
*Interested in supporting our community of ethnically diverse, under-resourced entrepreneurs to achieve your corporate ESG goals or personal social impact journey? Get in touch with us on cbs@shared-impact.com or make a tax-deductible donation to us!
