BDL mentoring works because people trust it. Everyone taking part, mentors and entrepreneurs alike, agrees to what follows.
Everyone
- Be respectful, punctual and prepared. If you cannot make a meeting, say so early.
- Keep what you hear confidential. Do not share another person’s business information without their permission.
- No harassment, discrimination or pressure of any kind.
- Keep it professional. No romantic or sexual approaches, and no requests for money or favours.
Mentors
- Give advice, not sales. While you mentor someone, do not sell them your services, lend them money or take a share in their business. If either of you wants to work together in another way, tell BDL first.
- Ask before you advise. Let the entrepreneur lead with their questions.
- Tell BDL about any conflict of interest, such as a competing business.
- Be honest about your time. Pausing is always fine. Disappearing is not.
Entrepreneurs
- Come with a clear question or goal, and tell your mentor what you did with their advice.
- Your mentor is a volunteer. Respect their time and their boundaries.
- Advice is not a guarantee. Decisions about your business remain yours.
Entrepreneurs under 18
- Meetings happen online or by phone, never in person.
- The BDL team is copied into the introduction, and should stay copied into your emails.
- A mentor must never ask a young entrepreneur for money, photographs or a private meeting.
Raising a concern
If anything in a mentoring relationship makes you uncomfortable, write to [email protected] with “Mentoring concern” in the subject. We read every message, and we act on it.
BDL may pause or end any match, and remove anyone from BDL mentoring, if this code is broken.