Mentoring consists of a focused information exchange between a person who has experience in a discipline (a wise and trusted teacher) with someone else who desires to learn. Mentoring differs from coaching, which is an activity that focuses on giving general instructions, in as much as there is a two-way exchange between the mentor and mentee with specific information content.
The TiE-Arizona mentoring program is designed primarily to assist entrepreneurs in emerging and growth businesses. However, the program is also open to owners, executives and line managers in mature and declining businesses where turnarounds may be necessary.
The mentoring program is designed to help professionals achieve their goals and reaffirm their successes. It is not a substitute for sound advice from professional services firms, such as accountants, attorneys and management consultants. However, the program will augment and enhance these services. Whereas the program will address matters related to business strategy formulation and planning and marketing plans, it addresses many other areas such as career counseling, project management, and employee motivation.
The mentors are members of the TiE-Arizona charter members or referrals with specific expertise. TiE-Arizona charter members have substantial entrepreneurial, leadership, managerial, industry, functional and technical expertise in their own businesses, as board members, as employees of others businesses, and as professional services providers. Charter members are appointed by invitation only and are selected from entrepreneurs, corporate executives and senior professionals with roots or interest in the Arizona region. These individuals are at a stage in their professional development where they are ready, willing and able to contribute to the entrepreneurial and business development community.
The mentees are bona-fide members of TiE-Arizona. Student members may also obtaining career counseling from a charter member.
Mentoring is rendered through one-on-one sessions between a mentor and a mentee, and group sessions where a mentee makes a presentation (usually an investor presentation) to a group of mentors as a dry-run for a real investor presentation.
