Mentor Resources

Cultivating Redemptive Entrepreneurship in and for the whole city

1 // Thank You

Thank you for participating in Cultivate Cohort Seven. As a mentor, we ask that you set aside intentional time to spend preparing. Here are a few suggestions on how to prepare, as well as some more detailed information about the event. We’re excited to have you with us!

2 // Review the Following

3 // Watch This Video

Session Resources

Preparing for Effective Mentorship

The Bible is rich with references to wisdom, here are two verses that help us think about mentorship

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24

Additional Thoughts

We think the best answers are often great questions.

  • Be thoughtful about – and share! – how your faith impacts your work and the way you practice your expertise. This often requires a lot of reflection, but we’ve found it to be a fruitful exercise.
  • Help our Fellows think about their entire lives, not just their organizations. The two are inexorably linked.
  • Be encouraging while honest. We should be spurring each other on, while demanding excellence of each other.

We’re also fond of the Mentor Manifesto, created by David Cohen, the leader of TechStars:

  • Be socratic.
  • Expect nothing in return (you’ll be delighted with what you do get back).
  • Be authentic / practice what you preach.
  • Listen first.
  • Be direct. Tell the truth, however hard.
  • Clearly separate opinion from fact.
  • Hold information in confidence.
  • Clearly commit to mentor or do not. Either is fine.
  • Know what you don’t know. Say “I don’t know” when you don’t know. “I don’t know” is preferable to bravado.
  • Guide, don’t control. Teams must make their own decisions.
  • Accept and communicate with other mentors that get involved.
  • Be optimistic.
  • Provide specific actionable advice, don’t be vague.
  • Be challenging/robust but never destructive.
  • Have empathy. Remember that startups are hard.