(Source: http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/seven_habits_of_highly_effective_mentors)

The concept of a mentor was introduced to us by Homer: In The Odyssey, on the eve of his epic voyage, Odysseus leaves his son Telemachus in the care of his trusted friend, Mentor. It is later revealed that Mentor is actually Athena—goddess of wisdom, inspiration, skill, and strategy—in disguise.

Mentors, whether professors or practitioners, play a critical role in the personal and professional development of individuals—in the nonprofit world and beyond. They are also invaluable to society as a whole, as the insight and practical experience they provide pave the roads to success for future generations, enabling them to explore new ground and take on new challenges more swiftly by avoiding some the journey’s initial stumbling blocks.

As students, we are fortunate enough to encounter potential mentors on a regular basis. Our experience engaging with possible mentors has ranged from never getting a reply, to getting an introductory email, to learning to count someone as family. What turns an advisor or boss into a trusted mentor, someone whom others turn to for wisdom, inspiration, skill, and strategy? What can you do to maximize your effectiveness as a mentor? Below we present—from the perspective of a mentee—seven habits of highly effective mentors:

1. Humanize yourself. Sometimes the impressive titles on your desk and the awards on your wall can make you seem pretty intimidating, discouraging us from speaking frankly about our problems or asking questions we fear will seem silly. We wouldn’t be meeting with you if we didn’t already respect and admire you, so don’t be afraid to admit your own stumbling blocks. Make yourself more relatable by sharing a big mistake you made, a regret you have, or something you’d do differently in hindsight. Such a confidence makes it easier for us to admit our own struggles and helps us see that failures are natural pit stops on the road to success. Step off the pedestal we’ve placed you on, and remind us that even the Greek gods could be fallible like mortals.

2. Make regular appearances. Just as constellations offered ancient civilizations comfort with their seasonal presence, you give us reassurance when you check in with us periodically. Sometimes we hesitate to contact you until we have something big to report. Make an effort to keep in touch, especially if you haven’t heard from us in a while. An unsolicited email with a link to an article of interest and a line asking how we’re doing is a thoughtful and easy way to reach out. One of Jennifer’s mentors makes a point to wish her happy birthday every year via Facebook or a quick email. It is a small but powerful gesture that makes him stand out.

3. Provide balanced feedback. Once you feel you’ve gotten to know us, give us honest feedback about our performance and personality. This is valuable insight that you are in a unique position to offer. One of Nina’s most influential mentors is like a coach. When Nina was having a hard time, this mentor told her that she believed in Nina’s potential and listed qualities she saw as her strengths. She shared a few things Nina hadn’t identified, and her encouragement changed the way she thought about herself. Even more empowering is this mentor’s constructive feedback. She told Nina not only how she could improve, but also gave her specific, actionable recommendations for how to do so. She anticipated the hurdles Nina might face and provided strategies for how to best tackle them.

4. Ask for something in return. No good relationship is one-sided. You are giving a lot to your mentees, and while many mentors consider the feel-good nature of mentoring reward enough, don’t hesitate to ask your mentee for a favor or two. For example, if you’re a professor, perhaps your student mentee can write to the Dean about how much she enjoyed your class, advise incoming students on how to make the most of a research internship with you, or serve on a department curriculum review committee to determine more effective ways of teaching the material. We’re flattered to be asked and welcome the opportunity to show our gratitude.

5. Foster community. Establish a sense of community by inviting us and your other mentees to group get-togethers outside the office or classroom. This “behind-the-scenes” exposure to your world allows us to learn about the many other parts of your life you value beyond work, such as family, friends, and hobbies. Jennifer’s mentor hosts a holiday party each year with his family, as well as periodic happy hours at local restaurants. His mentees always look forward to the chance to get to know students from different years, as well as the opportunity to spend time with our mentor outside a formal work setting. Jennifer was touched when another advisor invited her to share Thanksgiving with his family after learning she wasn’t going to be able to fly home to see her own.

6. Make introductions. Just as companies have a board of directors to guide their growth, we benefit from developing a diverse board of mentors or a mentoring team. Like the pantheon atop MountOlympus, a group of mentors can offer broad expertise and even create the opportunity for new partnerships. Encourage us to think critically about whose guidance can build on yours and address the other needs or facets of our life. Connect us with individuals you know, and ask us if there is anyone else we might like to meet. Make an email introduction, or even better, arrange a coffee break or lunch during which you can introduce us personally.

7. Be a mentee. Our experience as mentees has been the foundation for our own budding efforts as mentors. Everyone from the middle-school student to the most senior CEO can benefit from being both a mentor and a mentee. Continue investing in yourself and your own development.

Whether you’re a seasoned mentor with many mentees or a new mentor just starting to cultivate your first mentoring relationship, keeping in mind these points will help ensure that both you and your mentees grow and strengthen as a result of your mentorship.

By Jennifer Przybylo & Nina Vasan | 6 | Jun. 3, 2013

By Deborah Livneh

WEtech Alliance Entrepreneur-In-Residence Deborah Livneh poses with Weight Watcher’s Founder Florine Mark.

Have you ever wondered why women are not nearly as active in the entrepreneurial realm as they could be? It isn’t due to lack of education – females make up the majority of university graduates. Is it simply that women have a different mindset than men? One male entrepreneur that I spoke to, explained that women face higher external barriers such as family responsibilities. Others believe that it was because men are more willing to take risks. There is certainly some truth to these notions, but they aren’t the whole story…

A 2010 research study funded by the Kauffman Foundation examined key character traits in male and female entrepreneurs . ‘The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur: Are Successful Women Entrepreneurs Different from Men?’ studied 549 successful founders of high tech enterprises of which 41 were women.

Astoundingly, the study’s findings showed that successful female and male entrepreneurs are similar in almost every respect. They had equivalent levels of education, early interest in starting their own business, a strong desire to build wealth or capitalize on a business idea, and the two genders similarly agreed on the top challenges and issues facing any entrepreneur, such as balancing family life and business demands.

It is also a commonly held belief that access to capital is more restricted for female entrepreneurs, but the study found no major differences in the types of funding sources tapped by men and women entrepreneurs. Funding can be tough to acquire for all new businesses, regardless of the gender of the founder.

However, the study did identify some potentially revealing gender differences among successful business founders.
For example, the motivation behind starting a business differed slightly between the genders. Women placed more emphasis on a business partner’s encouragement as a key enticement towards the risky step into entrepreneurship.

The perception of several key success factors is also somewhat unique. Female entrepreneurs place higher value on their prior experience and mentors as contributors to their success than do men. Women also rank their business and professional networks higher than male counterparts.

Beyond the mindset of entrepreneurs, there is still a noticeable industry and occupational disparity between genders. Prior experience clearly affects the industry and type of enterprise the entrepreneurs will start. Both men and women possess prior experience in the field of their new venture. Men tend to have more experience in business and technical fields, while women by contrast tend to build on their experience in administrative and service related areas.

Looking forward, we can expect to see increased participation of women in science and engineering, so with that prior experience more females may be represented as founders of high tech companies. But innovative and high growth enterprises can be built by successful female entrepreneurs in more ‘feminine industries’, as well.

In our own region there are women who have built growing businesses. Florine Marks of Michigan is a fine example. She built her successful Weight Watchers company that is now located all over North America helping people stay in shape. Anther inspiring entrepreneur is Maureen Lucas. She started ‘Lucas Works’ right here in Windsor. Profit Magazine lists Lucas Works as one of the top 200 fastest growing companies in Canada. The Job Shoppe, founded by Meighen Nehme, also appears on that elite list.

Women are a robust pool of potential entrepreneurs. We know that entrepreneurs are the chief driver of new jobs for the recovering economy. So, increasing the total number of entrepreneurs participating in our economy is of prime interest to our community.

Efforts to promote women’s entrepreneurship should ensure access to both mentors and to well-developed networks. The Windsor Downtown Accelerator addresses both. It offers encouragements and support for women entrepreneurs who aspire to take the first giant leap towards their future prosperity.

Deborah Livneh is Entrepreneur–In-Residence at WEtech Alliance, and a session professor at the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Accelerator. Deborah is a veteran co-founder of several innovative startups. She holds an engineering degree and Masters in Business Administration. Contact her at dlivneh@wetech-alliance.com

The rookie robotics team from Assumption High School and WEtech Alliance attended the FIRST Robotics World Championship in St. Louis, where over 25,000 spectators and students from elementary all the way up to high school participated in the four-day tournament.

Assumption competed against 400 high schools from 40 countries and they represented quite well, winning a quarter of their matches.

The event was highlighted by stirring speeches from the executives of Boeing, Rockwell Automation, GM as well as a star appearance by pop star Will.i.am.

FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and it is an international robotics competition for 250,000 students at the grade school (LEGO Robotics) and high school level (FRC).  Students who compete in FIRST are twice as likely to attend college or university and twice as likely to major in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM).

Here is an excellent video from the Chrysler Foundation that talks about FIRST and why major companies are investing in the program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IppTdkRcoXs&feature=player_embedded

WEtech Alliance is spearheading the expansion of FIRST Robotics in Windsor and Essex, with plans to have 10 high school teams competing in the region.  WEtech has also submitted a bid to host a regional robotics tournament at the University of Windsor in April, 2014 that will bring 1,200 high school students from across Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and as far away as California, Mexico etc.

Those interested in starting a FIRST Robotics team are encouraged to contact Dr. Irek Kusmierczyk, Director of Robotics and Youth Programs, at WEtech Alliance.