Strengthening Connections & Expanding Capacity: Women in Business Mentor–Mentee Workshop

December 4, 2025
Posted by: Michael Teye
Category: Women in Business

Last Thursday, the Women in Business Mentorship Program held its highly anticipated Mentor–Mentee Workshop at La Villa Boutique Hotel, an inspiring afternoon designed to deepen learning, expand networks, and strengthen the collective capacity of our 2025 cohort.

The event opened with warm remarks from Project Manager, Tracy Abbey Mensah, who welcomed participants and walked them through the structure and expected outcomes of the session. She highlighted that beyond one-on-one mentorship, this workshop was designed to give every mentee access to the broader pool of expertise within the WIB network.

The first segment featured an insightful presentation by Wisdom Abodakpi and Naomi Nunoamesi from PUM Netherlands Senior Experts, a long-standing GNBCC member organization. They introduced PUM’s mission, areas of expertise, and the international network of senior professionals available to support SMEs across multiple sectors.
This session sparked meaningful interaction as mentees engaged in a Q&A on how PUM’s technical support could complement their individual business needs.

To ensure every mentee benefited from the collective experience of our mentors, participants were divided into thematic groups based on their pre-identified areas of need. They then moved through cross-learning rotations, allowing each business owner to interact with more than one mentor.

The mentor-led sessions covered three critical thematic areas:

Branding & Market Positioning – Led by Barbara Davies
Focused on brand identity, packaging presence, storytelling, market fit, and strengthening product visibility.
Access to Funding & Investment Readiness – Led by Fatima Alimohamed
Provided guidance on fundraising pathways, investor expectations, financial preparedness, and understanding what makes a business investment-ready.
Marketing & Digital Strategy – Led by Dr. Florence Teiko Vanderpuye
Highlighted tools and strategies for digital visibility, consumer engagement, product promotion, and establishing a strong online footprint.

These sessions were highly practical, with many mentees bringing their products for live demonstrations, immediate feedback, and one-on-one guidance from the mentors.

The reflections shared afterward made it clear how transformative the workshop had been. Mentees spoke about the clarity and confidence they gained, the “aha” moments sparked by mentor insights, and how engaging directly with multiple experts broadened their perspectives beyond their assigned mentorship track.

The networking that followed was an added bonus — an opportunity for mentees and mentors to build deeper relationships, explore collaboration possibilities, and strengthen the supportive community that the WIB program is known for.

This Mentor–Mentee Workshop successfully achieved its goal of offering participants broader guidance, fresh ideas, and actionable insights to support their growth journeys. With increased access to expertise from both the WIB mentors and PUM Netherlands Senior Experts, mentees are now better positioned to refine their strategies and accelerate their business progress.

We look forward to witnessing the growth and innovation that will emerge from the connections and knowledge shared during this impactful session.