Professor Meredith Tharapos delivered a session on the power of mentoring, as a part of the TransformHER webinar series.
She highlighted that entrepreneurs face uncertainty, risk, limited resources, loneliness, rapid decision-making, and constant change. Many businesses fail not because the idea is poor, but because founders lack guidance and support.
“Asking for guidance isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s one of the smartest investments you can make in yourself and your future business.”
Mentors provide:
- Real-world experience and insights
- Access to professional networks
- Emotional support during setbacks
- Strategic thinking guidance
- Accountability to turn ideas into action
“A good mentor isn’t trying to build dependence on them. Their goal is to help you become more capable, more confident, and more independent as an entrepreneur.”
A mentor does more than provide answers. Effective mentors guide, challenge, support and develop independent thinking. Research shows that entrepreneurs with mentors often experience higher business survival rates and growth, increased confidence, and stronger leadership skills.
“Businesses grow because people grow, and great mentors help entrepreneurs become the people capable of building lasting success.”
The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).