04.12.2013

The 1st Russian Forum Mentorship in Entrepreneurship

On December 3, 2013, International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) held the 1st Russian Forum Mentorship in Entrepreneurship organized by Youth Business Russia Programme under the auspices of Department for Development of Small and Medium Business and Competition of RF Ministry of Economic Development. Partnering the Forum were Entrepreneurship Center, Pokolenie 2025 communication platform, EY. The Ministry of Economic Development was represented by V.Yu.Putilina, Head of Bureau for SME Support, who addressed the audience with welcome speech.

According to global statistics, 80% entrepreneurship projects go bankrupt in the first twelve months. If, however, the young entrepreneur is supported by an experienced mentor or successful business person, the situation tends to be quite different.

Notably, 80% entrepreneurship projects implemented with the help of the programmes of the Youth Business International (YBI has been operating for 15 years in 40 countries of the world) survive and become successful. The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Survey 2011 highlighted the role of non-financial support of young people who start and develop their businesses. Young entrepreneurs themselves appear to believe that their chances to success tend to be 50% higher if supported by mentors.

“Being young entrepreneurs, we are plagued by myriads of questions. To stay afloat, we often solve them by a trial and error method. Mentorship is the tool that meets our demand. – stressed Danil Kruglikov, 24, a young entrepreneur developing his business in memorial and souvenir production, Voronezh Region. – Trainings and seminars won’t be able to do the same because they are focused on other things. Whereas the mentor knows you, grasps the broad picture, takes into account the specifics of your business and your personality. The mentor has faced similar problems and knows how to solve them. Besides, their view is inherently different from ours, if for no other reason than being an outside point of view.”

Youth Business Russia (YBR) Programme is a member of Youth Business International (YBI). It has been operating for 5 years and implemented in 6 regions of the Russian Federation. Apart from financial and advising support, YBR provides for effective interaction between each young entrepreneur and an experienced mentor, applying the proven YBI techniques for selecting and educating mentors as well as for the organization of the ‘mentor – mentee’ dialogue. As a result, 80% of young entrepreneurs who have received the YBR support are building productive and successful businesses.

“I believe mentorship in entrepreneurship is a valid and widely needed initiative, - said Natalya Larionova, Director of Department for Development of Small and Medium Business and Competition of RF Ministry of Economic Development. – It is important to regard mentorship not as an imposed social burden but as a complicated organizational work. That is why the practices used by Youth Business Russia have to be extended to more regions.”

“Mentorship is a unique advantage of Youth Business Russia, - believes Boris Tkachenko, Manager of YBR Programme, Head of Branch Office IBFL in Russia. – In our country, mentors provide a great support to young entrepreneurs, though not every experienced business person can become a mentor. Searching for successful entrepreneurs capable of teaching others, educating mature business people in effective interaction with young people, matching mentors and mentees and monitoring their activities – these processes ensure proper use of the international mentorship technology in Russia.”

Youth Business Russia personalizes its work with young entrepreneurs and its relations with mentors, making thorough selection and engaging mature and motivated ones to share their experience with young people. This results in bridging the gap between generations and accumulating business experience, where successful entrepreneurs translate their business culture and principles to starters helping young people excel in their endeavours.

“When I decided to join the YBR Programme as a mentor, I was motivated by a natural desire of a mature entrepreneur to get a first-hand knowledge of those who are coming to take over from us, to pass on my best experience, impart professionalism and business ethics,” said V.A.Markelov, a YBR mentor, President of Novosibirsk Chamber of Industry and Commerce.


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