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Mentoring the Traditional Way
SME WORLD Feature Desk
Mar 2009
Mar 2009
Page 1 of 2
Being an entrepreneur is a dream which dies in the hearts of many young people, all for want of a mentor who can guide them. All over the world mentoring is gathering momentum as a revolution and making a difference to the world of aspring entrepreneurs. The Bhartiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) is one such organization which caters to the mentoring needs of those with a business idea but no wherewithal to start on their own.
“I feel proud to have become a lakhpati from an ordinary employee getting a meager salary. Now I am capable of offering employment opportunities to others”, says Balaji M who is amongst those benefited immensely from the mentoring programmes of BYST.
Modeled on the Prince of Wales Youth Business Trust, BYST was officially launched by Prince Charles in 1992 in New Delhi. The main motto of this not-for-profit organization is to assist the disadvantaged youth develop business ideas into viable enterprises under the guidance of a mentor.
What's Unique?
The mentoring program of BYST derives its roots from the ancient Indian Guru-Shishya tradition. The program has been adapted and augmented to meet the needs of modern entrepreneurs. What is unique about BYST's mentoring programme is that BYST attracts volunteers from different backgrounds and areas of business. Secondly the programme is entirely self-sustaining in the long run. The youth who avail of training are empowered to take on leadership roles in the business community. They in turn come back and volunteer to mentor the disadvantaged youth.
Mentors are professionals who volunteer to dedicate a part of their time to share their experience and skills with the entrepreneurs. Mentors help entrepreneurs understand problems and also give them counseling, guidance and self confidence.
Online Mentor Training presents an easy to understand format and regularly updated information also enables easy access to support for entrepreneurs.
Regular mentor-entrepreneur meets provide platforms for sharing common perspectives so as to effectively develop the relationship between mentors and the entrepreneurs.
One-to-One Mentoring Model
In this mentoring model, the mentor is expected to meet the entrepreneur at least once a month, either at the entrepreneur's unit or at the mentor's office. During this time the mentor focuses on the issues and problems related to the start up. It is the responsibility of the entrepreneur to keep his mentor informed of the progress of his business and to see that he has been able to incorporate the suggestions given by the mentor.
This model was initiated to cater to the needs of rural entrepreneurs who are spread far and wide, making it difficult for mentors to travel and meet individual units. The mobile mentor clinic consists of a group of five to six mentors from diverse backgrounds such as marketing, engineering, finance, agro-products, general management etc. Once in a month a group of mentors travels together to the cluster which they are incharge of. On a given day, these mentors visit four to six rural entrepreneurs.
'In the 10th year of our programme the 1000th young person to be helped by BYST has taken the step from being a job seeker to becoming a job creator,' says Lakshami V Venkateshan, Founding Trustee & Executive Vice President, BYST.
Exploiting Innovative Business Ideas
BYST works with young people in the age group of 18-35, who are either unemployed or underemployed. Individuals with sound imaginative business ideas, along with the will and determination to succeed form the cornerstones of BYST.
Business proposals from potential entrepreneurs are welcome directly or through vocational schools, entrepreneurial training institutions and well established grass root and Non-Governmental Organisations. Assistance is provided to help formulate these proposals.
2 Comments >>
Bhim Khati
24 Jul 2011 (05:09:53)
I am from Gangtok Sikkim and since last 5 years I am completly failure in business.
So please suggest me to become successfull entrepreneur.
Thankyou
poorba
20 May 2011 (02:11:42)
i had come to know about BYST from a news paper when i was in chennai. it is doing a grate job for the youths of india where man power is a boon and unemployment is a curse. i wish BYST to stretch their helping hand towards our 7 sisters of north east india. this region really needs you people.
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