- You have been professionally dedicated to mentoring for many years. How have you seen the evolution of this discipline over recent years?
I have been collaborating with Autoocupació as a volunteer mentor since 2012. Limiting the answer to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, I would highlight: there is greater diversity among mentor profiles (which is fantastic), not only in terms of age, but also professional experience, area of specialization, etc. The profile of mentees has also become more diverse: they are no longer just entrepreneurs linked to potentially scalable projects attractive for investment rounds; now
anyone who wishes to become self-employed can access a mentor. Undoubtedly, Autoocupació has contributed significantly to this transformation, not only through its own programs but also those it co-promotes with both public and private institutions.
- What are the main challenges faced by entrepreneurs, and how can mentoring contribute to overcoming them effectively?
Each “entrepreneurial company – entrepreneurial project” pair faces particular challenges, which makes generalization risky. However, it is often assumed that the challenges are concentrated on “technical” issues such as sectoral knowledge, economic-financial forecasts, and the realistic quantification of available resources and capacities.
However, I believe there are two main challenges:
- Accepting one’s own limitations: When one believes everything is under control, it is often a sign that important aspects of the project are unknown. Recognizing that there is always room to learn and improve is fundamental.
- Managing expectations: Both personal and those of the immediate environment. Initial enthusiasm can distort the perception of risks and operational difficulties. If the environment shares this enthusiasm, it may be less critical and less helpful in detecting potential problems.
In other situations, the environment may adopt an opposing attitude: focusing exclusively on difficulties and obstacles, without valuing the potential and opportunities of the project.
The mentor figure can play a key role in identifying unknown aspects and balancing this duality. They can help maintain a clear perspective,
promoting reflection based not only on what to do, but also on how to do it, thus ensuring a more complete and realistic approach.
- What do you consider to be the key competencies for successfully acting as a mentor?
A few years ago, I would have answered this question by saying that a mentor should not be “superman” or “superwoman” (i.e., they don’t have to see everything, know everything, or be able to do everything). Now, however, I believe that humility and empathy are most relevant to me.
Humility to accept that one’s own experience is not the only valid one for the person we are accompanying, that our knowledge is not absolute, and that the person we are accompanying may not consider our explanations and perspective.
Empathy to understand that there are reasons that drive the person we are accompanying to make decisions, to carry out actions that we do not understand or even that do not fit with our value system, and that this does not mean they cease to be valid and useful for the purposes of their entrepreneurial project.
- What are the key factors for an effective mentoring relationship?
Sincerity,
honesty, and
transparency from both parties. Without this “trinity,” it can be difficult to build a trusting relationship, to have intelligent conversations that “transform” (that lead the mentee to a different place from where they started). And as I mentioned in a previous question: it is fundamental that the mentee takes the initiative in their process, in their objective.
- What are the differences between professional mentoring and mentoring within a volunteer program?
In my case, as a mentor, nothing essentially changes. I apply the same range of techniques, with relevant adaptations, maintain the same level of commitment to contribute as much as possible, and use the same follow-up sheet format to record notes from each session. As for the mentee, the difference lies not so much in whether the mentoring is voluntary or paid, but in their attitude towards their goal and the mentoring process. Some people fully commit to themselves and their project, showing a proactive and leading attitude to get the most out of the process. Others, however, may adopt a more passive or reactive attitude, expecting the mentor to direct the process and offer all solutions, without considering that results will only come with sustained effort on their part.
- Our motto is “I am what I want to be.” And you, are you?
Being what you want to be at all times means being aware of the present, valuing what you have, do, and feel. It means making conscious decisions. I
am 100% what I want to be, although this 100% does not always translate into full satisfaction; quite the opposite. There are moments of frustration, sadness, or anger. And that means I am alive, that I do things, that I take risks learning, not getting it right the first time… I encourage everyone to embrace this
claim
