Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a peer-to-peer entrepreneur network of more than 16,500 like-minded leaders across 60 countries worldwide, are piloting a volunteer based 360 mentorship program to support the growth of local community startups. The 360 Mentorship Program Pilot is running in Melbourne, with future plans to roll it out nationwide.
What is the 360 Mentorship Program?
Running in partnership with Melbourne’s North Food Group, mentees of the program will receive twelve months of free mentoring from members of EO, with mentors’ businesses each turning over a minimum of $1m. With Kikki K founder Kristina Karlsson and Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar among Entrepreneurs Organization Australian alumni, the program provides an invaluable chance to learn from Australia’s leading community of entrepreneurs.
The not-for-profit, peer-to-peer network’s existing mentor program has been running for years, giving Entrepreneurs’ Organization members the opportunity to receive mentorship themselves. 360 Mentorship Program is aptly named for completing the circle of providing mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs, giving them the support to grow and flourish.
What is the impact of the program on the community?
Mentee businesses in the program include Josh’s Rainbow Eggs (2019 Victorian Young Achiever Award for Environmental Sustainability) and Bippi, an authentic Italian chilli, to name a couple. “Entrepreneurs’ Organizations 360 Mentorship Pilot Program is our way of giving back and uplifting other small business owners in our local community” commented Costa Vasili, founder and CEO of Ethnolink, a national language translation services provider.
“As a program mentor I’ve been working with Ben Circosta on his traditional Italian chilli business, Bippi. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to give back to the community, particularly as both of our business ideas were inspired by our migrant backgrounds.”
Commenting on the Entrepreneurs’ Organization program, Ben Circosta, Mentee, said “It’s an amazing experience to learn from a successful entrepreneur like Costa, and I’ve immediately been able to improve not just business processes but also personally, as a business owner.”
The twelve-month pilot program focuses on goal setting and resolving challenges as they arise, with monthly catchups averaging a couple of hours each month. Concluding in 2023, the goal is to roll it out in other states next year. Entrepreneurs’ Organization has independent chapters operating in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and West Australia.
