FAQs About Being a Mentor

We are currently looking for mentors for the following mentoring programs:

• One-to-One Mentoring: We match a woman who is in the early stages of operating her business with an experienced entrepreneur for a six-month mentoring relationship.
• Financial Fitness Peer Mentoring: Facilitated by Chartered Professional Accountants, these peer groups of up to eight women work through their business challenges and improve their financial literacy in a confidential, supportive environment.

Mentors volunteer a total of 16-20 hours over the course of the program, including their facilitator training, prep time and one-on-one or group sessions. The schedule is very flexible and is set by you and your mentee(s).

Yes, we provide training to prepare you for your one-to-one relationship, or to help you facilitate a group of up to eight mentees.

You don’t have to have all the answers! You are supported by a team of professional Business Advisors who can assist your mentee(s) with their business questions.

For Peer Mentoring Groups, we provide the tools required to facilitate each session (handbooks, journals, forms, etc.) as well as supporting resources, including webinars and worksheets. Meeting expense allowances are provided to supply refreshments for each session and cover any printing and travel.

The main role of the mentor is to facilitate group conversations that will help mentees develop and strengthen their businesses, specifically focusing on financial literacy and skills to support business growth. Mentors help the group work through the process and find answers to their challenges. We ask that you:

• Schedule time and location for all meetings
• Find one or two colleagues to assist you
• Facilitate meetings, ensuring the meeting flow format is followed
• Share your business experience and insights
• Encourage all members to participate actively in the group
• Maintain confidence and confidentiality between members
• Help mentees to establish or maintain a business growth mindset

Mentees are women business owners who are actively operating a business in your community. WEC interviews all applicants to find motivated entrepreneurs who have the appropriate level of business foundations to benefit from the program, and who are open to having input from a mentor to help them reach their business goals.