MentorWE

MentorWE Sponsors & Supporters

MentorWE

MentorWE is a dynamic, group mentoring initiative. This transformative nine‑month program unites a select cohort of small business leaders with accomplished corporate executives and peer mentors to confront business challenges head-on, refine strategic visions, and elevate leadership, networking, and communication skills.

At the beginning of each cycle, cohort members define their own objectives, ensuring that every session is uniquely tailored to their business goals. Our mentors are seasoned leaders who have faced and overcome similar challenges and offer empathetic, hands-on guidance to help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey with insight and determination.

While MentorWE does not guarantee contracts or new business directly with mentors, its benefits are profound and far-reaching. Past participants have experienced outcomes such as:

Innovative solutions to complex business challenges
Expanded and enriched professional networks
Strategic relationships with corporate executives and industry trailblazers
Fresh perspectives that inspire new business ventures
Exposure to best practices and cutting-edge business strategies
Enhanced marketing materials and refined business strategies
A collaborative environment that fuels shared growth and innovation

Exclusively invitation-only for both mentees and mentors, MentorWE is more than just a program it’s a vibrant community committed to empowering small business leaders in business. Elevate your business acumen and transform challenges into opportunities with MentorWE.

MentorWE Announcments

We are excited to announce the next cohort application cycle for MentorWE, an initiative of Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. A diverse cohort of small business leaders will have the opportunity to bring their business challenges and develop goals to advance their businesses through corporate executive & peer mentoring. During the nine-month program, participants work within a diverse cohort to sharpen their business acumen in several areas while enhancing their leadership, networking, and communication skills led by advanced business leaders. Since 2019, 90 small business leaders have participated in the program and have achieved phenomenal business and personal results. By design, the cohort’s objectives are self-defined at the start of each program cycle.

Mentor Moments Podcast

MentorWE Highlights

“Being able to define what makes your company different from the competition is vital when a potential buyer asks for your pitch.” And it’s a lesson that has since paid off. Unconventional Solutions’ sales have grown to $3 million and the firm has expanded into northwest Indiana and doubled its staff. “The education you receive, the relationships you build and the more opportunities you can give to others because of this MentorWE program are priceless”

“I am grateful for being in the program and being awarded the registration to attend the National WBENC Conference. At the conference, I received one-on-one coaching from the GLWBC Program Manager as I interacted with Corporate procurement professionals. I appreciate the level of attention I received from my mentor Anne throughout the cohort. I have much work to do to get my business to a level of success, but I’ve received much information and a foundation on which to build upon through MentorWE.”

“The support and encouragement mentees gave each other were truly heartwarming and I suspect those relationships will continue for years to come,” said LeFevre. “This kind of network is important because when I started in this business 30 years ago, there were precious few women in the construction industry and even fewer women-owned businesses. We’ve made strides over the years but that progress has been far too slow. MentorWE is not only a well-structured program that can help change that, it’s also a way to share our trials and triumphs.”

“Thank you for accepting me into the MentorWE program. It was a big commitment, but so worth it! Our other business has increased, we employed two more people. I really enjoyed the strategic planning session facilitated by Aristeo Construction. It helped me understand how to prepare for 2020. Also being new to being the spokesperson for my business, learning how important it is to deliver a two-minute pitch is invaluable!”

“I developed lasting relationships with mentors and landed a new contract of $2M with a peer mentor. I enjoyed every session and the relationship formed with the other women. We support each other, share valuable insight on upcoming opportunities, and also do business with each other if we can all thanks to going through this program.”

MentorWE Sponsors & Supporters

MentorWE Announcments

Mentor Moments Podcast

MentorWE Highlights

MentorWE Sponsors & Supporters

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