Last week, Berytech signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the British organization Mowgli to provide a mentorship program to Lebanese entrepreneurs.

This initiative seals an agreement that allows Berytech to identify and recommend Lebanese entrepreneurs to a network of international mentors screened and selected by Mowgli. A pilot session matching mentors to mentees will take place from February 5 to 7, 2010 in Lebanon. This experience is designed to develop mentors on the one hand and empower entrepreneurs to build successful and sustainable businesses, creating at the same time a life-changing opportunity for mentors and mentees to learn together, fulfill potential and realize ambition, on the other.

The MOU was signed between Mr. Maroun N. Chammas, President and CEO of Berytech and Mr. Simon Edwards, CEO of Mowlgi, who was on a short visit to screen a first group of entrepreneurs. He expressed his admiration to the entrepreneurship spirit he detected among Berytech’s community members as well as to the role the incubator is playing in supporting them: “What you have here is an inspiring and wonderful operation. The support you provide with such dedication and passion to those brilliant entrepreneurs is truly amazing”, he declared during Berytech’s Christmas Gala Dinner which he attended as well.

Some of the expected outcomes of this mentorship program are: enhanced chances of business success, guidance during key transitions and decisions in growing a business, understanding the value of mentoring as a leadership development tool, learning the art of working across cultures and/or possible access to new markets.

The mentors who are identified and pre-qualified through a rigorous selection process, are typically international successful business practitioners with varied industry experience. Most have traveled, worked across borders and have a proven track record in the strategic side of business.

Mentees are screened and selected as well based on a set of criteria, that look, among other aspects, at the following: A developed business or a sound business idea that has a structure and secured funding, Vision, diligence and perseverance in establishing the business, Personal qualities of leadership; Commitment to mentoring for one year and Willingness to pass on the benefits of mentoring.

The first edition of this program, taking place in February 2010, and which garnered the enthusiasm and interest of a large number of Berytech entrepreneurs, will match up to eight mentors with individual mentees. Together, they will work on meeting the personal and business objectives of the latter. A session taking place over two days in a remote and secluded area will allow for accelerated relationship building, that will be followed by further interaction over a period of one year through phone, email and instant messaging.

Due to high interest in this program, Mowgli and Berytech are aiming to deploy a new session by May 2010.

About Mowgli:

Mowgli creates a life-changing opportunity for entrepreneurs to fulfil their potential and realize their ambitions. Their pioneering international mentoring network empowers entrepreneurs to build successful and sustainable businesses. Mowgli aims to provide the support, the tools and the knowhow that entrepreneurs in the developing world need to grow and succeed. For more info: www.mowgli.org.uk