Chamber ushering in city’s next generation of Tamworth business leaders | Feature

A growing number of the city’s next generation of influencers have come through its ranks and the chamber is looking for its next class of ambitious go-getters, along with the experienced business people to show them the ropes.

The chamber’s Mary Ryan-Garnett, who has been guiding mentees since the program’s inception, says this coming year will be slightly different.

Instead of pairing mentors and mentees one-on-one, there will be a board of mentors, any one of whom the mentees can reach out to.

“We were finding that either the mentee or mentor may not have been available, so the synergy was a bit fragmented,” Mrs Ryan-Garnett said.

“This way, there’ll always be someone on hand to help. We’ll introduce the panel at the very first event, so everyone has everyone’s phone number.

“We’re looking at a panel of 10 to 12 high-profile business people. Some of the mentors that have already put their hand up, I’m just gobsmacked.

“They’ve shown success leading an organisation or being an amazing entrepreneur – it’s a real mix of mentors that I’m after on the panel.”

Chamber president Jye Segboer said while the one-on-one mentoring had proven successful, the change would allow greater access to a range of local business leaders.

“This is an exciting change for the program, but also for the individual mentees,” Mr Segboer said.

“Being able to personally access a range of Tamworth’s best business minds at the same time, will provide greater insight into business topics while expanding their professional network.”

Slater and Gordon managing lawyer Fiona Burns said the knowledge she gained from the program was invaluable. 

Just months after completing the program as a mentee in 2016, she was elected to the chamber’s board to serve as its secretary.

Ms Burns was so impressed by the program, she’s put forward her own star pupil, Joshua Allen, who has been working with the firm as a legal assistant for just over a year.

“Now I have young business professionals working with me and I see them as future leaders in Tamworth,” Ms Burns said. 

Helping others was one of the primary reasons Mr Allen chose his law career path, and it’s the same reason he's looking forward to the mentoring program.

“I’m a big believer in using all the skills we have as individuals for the benefit of others,” Mr Allen said.

“I think learning from someone mature and successful will equip me with the tools I need to invest back in to the community I’ve grown up in.”

Applications are open for mentees (aged 18 to 35) until January 19, 2018. The program starts in February and runs over six weeks, with monthly workshops. Once they complete the program, mentees receive a Certificate IV in business.

“That course is usually anywhere between $1800 and $2000 – we offer it to all our members for $450 and $750 for non-members,” Mrs Ryan-Garnett said.

“Small businesses don’t often put funds aside for the training and development of their staff. So for $450 it’s a great way to ensure your staff are still getting their development and training.”

Despite the strong business focus of the program, mentees don’t have to come from a strictly business industry.

Walhallow Public School principal Tara Grant is a graduate of the 2017 program.

She was initially worried her education career wouldn’t align with the program, but is now thriving in her new role thanks to its teachings.

“I’m so glad I was involved – I developed both personally and professionally,” Ms Grant said.

“This came at the perfect time for me, as I was about to take over as relieving principal for six months.

“So I had to transition from being in the classroom dealing with children, to dealing with staff, parents and other community organisation.

“I got the most out of being able to relate to others through effective communication. Another big take away was learning that there are different motivators for different staff, and the need to listen when communicating.”

Ms Grant encouraged anyone keen to get ahead in their chosen career, regardless of their field, to sign up.

“I was greatly advantaged, especially coming in to my new role at the same time I started the course,” she said.

Mrs Ryan-Garnett encouraged the region’s business leaders to get involved.

“A mentor is someone who can really impart their wisdom, knowledge and experiences, that’s what makes a good mentor,” she said.

“Personally, I’ve had mentors all my life.

“I want to pay it forward and give back, hence why I’ve been doing it for so many years.

Mentors get just as much out of the program, Ms Ryan-Garnett said, with the teachers often inspired by the fresh and new ideas of the younger generation.

“The mentors get to develop a lovely relationship with their mentee, they go on to become friends, they guide them,” she said.

“We end up becoming life-long mentors, not just mentors for that six month period. I still talk to my mentees right up to this day.

“As a mentor you see the potential in your mentee and you guide them, that’s the beauty of being a mentor.”