Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program

₀ Provide a mentor experience for Aboriginal business persons.

₀ Help identify and pursue their business goals. ₀ Access to professional knowledge and exchange ideas

and values.₀ Develop, expand, improve the protégés business. ₀ Personal and professional contribution from the mentor.

₀ Take business to the next level.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Program Objective

₀ CCAB’s ABMP provides Aboriginal business owners with access to one-on-one advice and guidance from business executives who are experts in their fields.

₀ The program is mutually beneficial to both protégé and mentor and fosters a collaborative environment through exchange of ideas.

₀ Currently, the CCAB facilitates 21 Mentorship teams based in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, the Yukon and Labrador.

Program Objective

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

1. Assists Aboriginal business persons in establishing contacts outside the Aboriginal community.

2. Helps develop and improve general business and management skills.

3. Provides personal contact to seek objective business advice when needed, and assist in meetings one’s business goals through direct coaching.

Benefits for the Aboriginal Entrepreneur

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Benefits for the Mentor (Aboriginal or Non-Aboriginal)

1. Assists Aboriginal business persons in establishing contacts inside the Aboriginal community.

1. Helps develop and improve general business and management skills and own personal mentorship skills.

2. Creates an opportunity to share ones professional knowledge and exchange community knowledge, while providing a deep sense of personal growth.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Possible Areas of Advice

₀ Expanding into new markets.

₀ Improving internal business functions:-Marketing-Human Resources Management-Financial Management

₀ Product and service development.

₀ Sustainable growth.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

The Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program

Structure

₀ Idea proposed in 2008 to launch a pilot mentorship project.

₀ Pilot project launched in Ontario in 2009.

₀ 5 Mentorship teams participated in the pilot project.

₀ The success of the pilot project led to the framework development for the National program, and the launching of the Mentorship program in its current form.

₀ 19 selected protégés were paired with mentors for the 2010 year.

Introduction to Program History

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Positive feedback:

₀ “Right Fit” between the mentor and protégé.

₀ Passionate and mutual pursuit of protégés goals.

Project Outcomes

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Protégé Eligibility

₀ Canadian residents of First Nation (Status or Non-status), Métis or Inuit Ancestry.

₀ Self employed for 2 years consecutively minimum.

₀ Participation commitment of $350 for organizations with less than 25 people:-Includes a membership with the CCAB and all of the benefits of membership.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Mentor Eligibility

₀ Canadian residents (Aboriginal or non-aboriginal) who are well established in business, or retired, with several years of entrepreneurial, senior management or executive experience.

**Everyone (protégés and mentors) must submit an application found on the website at www.ccab.com under heading “Programs.”

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

Attendance & Waiver of Liability, Non-Competition, and Confidentiality Agreement

₀ Participants join the program for one year.

₀ Teams are encouraged to meet at least once per month.

₀ An orientation workshop (possibly via webinar) and possibly complimentary attendance at a CCAB learning and networking event.

₀ All participants must sign a form that protects both team members’ privacy and states that any exchange of information is strictly confidential.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

We are responsible for a carefully considered selection and matching procedure; frequent check-ins; support and guidance to both mentor and protégé.

We also organize webinars on various topics to help improve business functions

We conduct mid-match evaluations and hold interim debriefings to evaluate progress.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011

CCAB’s Role

CCAB would like to recognize the generous support provided by Compass Group Canada as the founding sponsor of the Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program and the Counselling Foundation of Canada as the programs lead sponsor.

Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program 2011