Kootenay businesses take advantage of mentoring program
Several staff members of AC Global Systems show off their product with advice from a mentor who works remotely from Vancouver. —Photo courtesy AC Global Systems
A new Mentorship and Business Assistance program (MBA) is matching up West Kootenay/ Boundary innovation companies with mentors. With additional support from Western Economic Development Canada and the Columbia Basin Trust, the mentorship program was launched by the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST) in February of 2009 and already has paired up 20 innovative companies with mentors. “In a recent survey of companies who have been working with their mentors for over three months 100% replied they had achieved business goals they did not think they could have accomplished without their mentors,” commented program co-ordinator Amber Hayes. “The capacity for this program to add value to innovation is quite impressive. We have been able to match up a gaming company in start-up with one of the world leaders in the field from Vancouver. The mentee in this case has said this mentorship has been a catalyst to accessing a new level of business development that otherwise may have taken years to achieve. It is very exciting.” Not all the mentors are industry gurus nor do they have to be technical in nature, rather they just need to be an individual with business success willing to share their expertise. By donating only two hours a month, mentor's knowledge and experience can save young companies hours upon hours of excruciating research, decision making and soul searching. Mentors may act as soundboards for organization decision making in departments where the mentor has experience. They can offer access to networks that would otherwise take years to establish. For companies looking for a mentor the KAST MBA program is open to any organization in the West Kootenay/ Boundary who embrace innovation in their process, products or service. There are currently manufacturing, service, technology, multi-media and retail companies benefiting from mentorship. Asked what is next Hayes replied, “We are continuing to intake companies wanting a mentor and are definitely inviting more mentors to the program! We make is very easy for our mentors and ensure they are matched with a company that will meet their skill set and personal goals for becoming a mentor. All the matchmaking and program initiation is done for the mentor. We invite folks interested in the program to visit http://www.kast.com to find out more and give us a call.” The program's success has also given rise to the development of a mentorship conference this fall. The conference goal is to provide other regional support organizations wanting to start a mentorship program or who are currently running a program with tools to promote success. The Kootenay Association for Science and Technology sees this as an opportunity to have other regions benefit from a mentorship program. It seems in tough times this is a great way to share knowledge and resources to support regional business success and growth. Every bit helps. At only two hours a month for mentors it is a great reward to recognize how their years of business learning can make a huge difference to a younger company and community. To find out more about this program visit "www.kast.com(http://www.kast.com)":http://www.kast.com and click on the mentorship logo.
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