Mentorship is one of the best gifts.

Having someone you admire invest time and energy in your goals builds successful companies and careers. Likewise, transmitting your experiences to others feels energizing. It’s what being an entrepreneur is about. Many of us are fond of our mentors, particularly if they took an interest in us while we were pushing our boulders uphill. But no one person has all the answers, and gathering multiple viewpoints is particularly important in our rapidly shifting world.

As someone who participated in an EO Forum for 25 years, I know this firsthand. I’ve made monthly peer-mentoring sessions of 10 to 12 other entrepreneurs an integral part of my ongoing education. In no small part, the knowledge I’ve gleaned from my EO peers led me to my newest undertaking.

Through the University of Missouri-St. Louis, I helped found UMSL Accelerate, an entrepreneurship certificate program that’s organized and taught by practicing entrepreneurs, and grounded in the principle of experiential learning. Of paramount importance to our students’ success has been access to mentors—both in and out of the classroom. (more…)