Become a YES Mentor

There are several ways you could help out throughout the year.  We need advisors, judges, sponsors and business mentors.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A YES COMPANY MENTOR 

To meet with a YES student company fortnightly over 3 terms, (for around two hours or whatever is agreed on)
Advise, support and guide the students.

Many YES students will have little or no previous business knowledge before participating in the programme. Through your own knowledge and personal experience, you will guide the students through the business process and ensure they remain motivated and on task. While this can be a seven-month commitment, meeting times will vary depending on schedules and the time of year. Previous mentors and students say that meeting once a fortnight worked well for them, although this may be weekly at the start of the programme. Your involvement with the students brings this programme to life and transforms it from a class-based project into a real-world experience. The biggest asset is your experience so don’t be afraid to use this to challenge the students’ thinking.

Requirements of a YES company mentor 

• Engage and challenge the students to help them make sound decisions

• Express business strategies and processes in a way that students can understand

• Act as a sounding board for the YES company

• Provide practical advice on product development, marketing etc, or help to find expertise

• Be available for the students to contact with questions

• Be able to work at the students’ pace

The success of the YES program is reliant on the involvement of the local business community. If you would like to become a mentor contact trina@commerce.org.nz 

For more information about YES Click Here