International Business Mentoring

In order to maximise the impact of its Business Mentoring Programme, and to engage additional Irish Private Sector skills and know-how in Traidlinks’ activities, an exploratory mission took place in November 2007.

Traidlinks hosted 10 Irish business leaders in Uganda who visited Traidlinks’ partner companies and supported the development of a viable model through which Traidlinks could create meaningful linkages between the Ugandan companies and the Irish Private Sector. As a result seven Business Mentors from a range of business sectors are now engaged in the International Business Mentors Programme.

The model of Business Mentoring developed from this visit is based on a matrix structure whereby each mentor will provide mentoring at a strategic level to a Traidlinks partner company in Uganda and may also sit on an Advisory Group to provide guidance on developments in relation to specialist project areas. This model provides Business Mentors with tangible ways to engage with Ugandan business partners, makes efficient use of their available time and provides ongoing feedback on achievements and impact in Uganda.