from left to right: Nwabisa Funde, Zena King, Mamolaoli Tolwana , Candice Parker, Denise Van Huyssteen
Chamber kicks off mentorship programme with meet and greet session
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber kick-started its Mentoring programme today with a meet and greet session for mentors and mentees at the Beach Hotel.
As part of a value-add to its member companies, the Chamber recently launched the programme which is aligned to its goals of empowering Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises and also helping to develop strong and resilient leaders across various business sectors in the city.
The first cohort consists of 20 mentees who were accepted from a pool of applicants from Chamber member businesses across Nelson Mandela Bay. With a database of 40 mentors representing business leaders from different economic sector backgrounds across the Metro, the mentoring will run for three months with the key focus on providing tailored one-on-one sessions with mentees. The larger mentor pool availability will allow for matching correctly based on the mentees requirements.
One of the mentees, Mamolaoli Tolwana an Accounts Manager at Metrofile, says that she feels honoured to be part of the pilot group of the programme. “This comes at a time where we have seen our country painfully bleed due to the fight against Covid in every way you could imagine. One thing I have learned from the pandemic is to strive to be the best version of myself and live while I still have the time.
“In such a time of uncertainty, I am sure my fellow mentees would agree that this has to be one of our silver linings. I trust that this process brings me wisdom, growth and prosperity so that I am able to do my part and open those doors for the many Mamolaoli’s that follow behind me,” Tolwana says.
Headed up by Nashua’s Sales Director Candice Parker, who has a demonstrated background in establishing and executing mentorship programmes, the mentorship is offered only to Business Chamber member businesses and their employees to empower and offer support to high potential individuals. Companies who are interested in the programme but are not Chamber members are encouraged to join as members.
The mentors will be offering guidance and motivation to individuals looking to establish themselves within the business fraternity or their small businesses. “We strongly believe in the power of mentorship and as such, 40 mentors will be offering guidance and motivation to individuals looking to establish themselves within the business fraternity or their small businesses. The mentees set to gain access to proven leaders who care about the development and advancement of others, including confidential inputs and guidance which is geared at empowering them and laying the foundation for success.”
Parker has the support of some of the Bay’s leading businesswomen such as Michelle Brown, the Founder and Managing Director of Brown’s PR, Bev Gaia the Founder and Owner of Gaia Marketing, Heather Dutton, Short Term Broker at Profin Financial Services, and Lucia Mtshake, a Residence Manager at Nelson Mandela University.
Chamber CEO Denise Van Huyssteen says in line with the radical changes in the business environment, the Chamber is going through the most change it has been through in its more than 150 years of operation. “We need to be a much more agile, resilient and innovative organisation – and as such, we have developed a fluid strategic plan which adopts ongoing change as the new norm. Change is not easy and requires strong and courageous leadership. As such, the Chamber recognises the role we need to play in helping to develop strong leaders for now and the future.”
“The mentorship programme provides an ideal vehicle for experienced business leaders – representing a wide range of sectors – to provide guidance and insights to those who are wanting to take their careers to the next level or to entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses,” she says.
The second phase of the programme will kick off in July until September 2022.