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Margot Ross-Graham, owner of Sandbar Coaching and Consulting (sandbar.me), says that to find a mentor, all you have to do is ask. “The best way for an entrepreneur to find a mentor is to seek out someone you respect and whose ideas and opinions resonate with you, and simply ask. My experience has been that many people would be happy to be a mentor but are often not asked because people assume they are simply too busy. If that is the case, a good mentor will be honest and tell you. On the other hand, if they have the time and interest in mentoring then you may be in luck. If you don’t ask you will never know.”

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“Entrepreneurs are go-out-and-make-it-happen type people, so finding a mentor takes that same perseverance. Send an email to someone you admire and ask to pick their brain over coffee. Oftentimes people are more than willing to give their advice. It may take sitting down with a few different people to find the right fit, but your possible mentor is out there and also looking to find someone like you.”— Ally McIlwraith, partner at Park Avenue Communications — parkavenuecommunications.com

“Don’t be afraid to ask! If there is an entrepreneur that you admire and feel may have similar values in the way they run their business, ask if they would be willing to take you under their wing. The worst thing that could happen is they say no, but if you don’t put yourself out there, you will never know.”— Jen Panteluk, Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta & NWT — janorthalberta.org

“There are many forms of mentorship available that one can learn from, from entrepreneurs you admire in your industry or even an unrelated industry. I would propose another form of mentorship or engagement, one that involves your trusted advisers such as your banker, lawyer or accountant. These individuals may be a great source of knowledge in regards to special situations, or they might be in a position to connect you with someone who can help.”— Hussein Poonjani, managing director at Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Inc. — grantthornton.ca

“Just ask! Identify individuals that you respect that have knowledge and experience relevant to what you need for growth. I’ve found that the majority of people are very willing to share their time as a mentor if you take it seriously and value their time.”— Bryan Smith, president of Bluetrain Inc. — bluetrain.ca

“All-knowing, low-cost mentors often turn out to lack credentials or have alternative motives. I suggest looking into your existing network for multiple individuals who have unique strengths. You may know someone who is a brilliant marketer and another who is a detailed technician. Neither of these individuals are likely sufficient as your only mentor, but drawing on their combined expertise provides a valuable mentorship base. Then hire a good lawyer and accountant to fill in the holes.”— Josh Spurrell, president of Spurrell & Associates Chartered Accountant — spurrell.ca

“Decide what you want from a mentor, articulate it on paper, and ask for referrals. Mentorship can be focused on leadership, operations, self-development and understanding, or a combination thereof. Know what you want, then ask others for recommendations.”— Darryl Moore, vice-president of Marketing and Communications — executrade.com

“I learned from a very dear friend that if there is someone that you admire and think would have wisdom to share, you just have to ask them. Most people love to help and share with others. Go for lunch or coffee (your treat!) and pick their brain.”— Kathleen Gagnon, creator at Elation Studio — elationstudio.com

“Research and follow those who inspire you, because they will likely have blogs, social media or company websites. Reach out and contact those people to ask for an information interview; if they agree to an initial meeting, you’ve likely got them as a mentor. Set up regular times to connect with your mentor, because inspiration, motivation and information-sharing should be ongoing.”— Natalie Harper, managing director at Harper PR — harperpr.com

“Find entrepreneurs that are farther along in their businesses, successful and happy. Grab some courage and ask if you can take them for coffee to pick their brain about how they do what they do. Bring your wallet, a list of questions and take a lot of notes. If there is chemistry, ask them if you can do it again sometime — it’s a lot like dating! And always follow up with an appropriate thank you email, card or even a tweet.”— Donloree Hoffman, founder and leadership Coach at Donloree Hoffman Consulting — donloree.com

“The good news is that Edmonton in particular is filled with groups that offer mentorship. Depending on what stage you’re at with your business, you may be able to leverage Startup Edmonton, the A100 group, Young Presidents Organization, TEC Edmonton, Venture Mentoring Service at the U of A, the HATCH program offered through NAIT, and numerous other organizations. Belonging to industry associations and related groups will help you get insight into some of the best advisers in your field.”— Ashif Mawji, CEO of NPO Zero — npozero.com

“Entrepreneurs need to first know what they want from a mentor and then just reach out. I have been fortunate to have mentors throughout my journey … like Ruth Kelly of Venture Publishing, who taught me determination, hard work and how it’s done … and Teresa Spinelli of the Italian Centre Shop, who reminded me that it’s all about hard work, relationships and community. As an entrepreneur, you are going to go through ups and downs as you continue to grow, but the key is to grow. Join your local Chamber, Rotary or BNI, attend workshops, volunteer, and just get out there and meet people who are smarter than you.”— Pardee Badyal, founder of Art Trends Magazine — arttrends.ca

“I am a huge fan of the mentorship program offered by interVivos! Having an incredible mentor who encourages and challenges me has been key to my growth. The right mentor will be different for everyone, but I would recommend connecting with someone who you both admire and respect — important factors in establishing a relationship of trust and open communication.”— Nicole Beart, founder of Memory Catcher Personal & Corporate Video Biographies — memorycatcher.ca

“Let people know you’re interested in finding a mentor and just start networking! You’re bound to meet someone who you will want to emulate in the workplace.”— Matt Bell, creative director at PinchPoint Media

“If you are a student or alumnus of the University of Alberta, we have a program for that! It’s called Venture Mentoring Service, and you can find more at ualberta.ca/vms. If you aren’t, connect with the community through attending events and volunteering with organizations like Startup Edmonton, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneur’s Organization.”— Ashlyn Bernier, manager of Venture Mentoring Service — ualberta.ca/vms

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Breakfast with GoogleAn opportunity to learn from a Google expert on how to grow your businessWhere: Adster (4218, 10230 Jasper Ave.)When: 10:30 a.m.Admission: Free. Register at adster.ca/blog

Creativity & Convergence: Engineering InnovationA small business conference featuring Don Scott, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education Where: Chateau Louis Conference Centre (11727 Kingsway)When: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission: $50 to $150. Tickets at ABCtech.ca

North Edmonton Business Association Mixer An opportunity to mix, mingle and network with other entrepreneursWhere: Canadian Brewhouse (12711 97th St.)When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission: Free. Tickets at neba.ca

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What’s the most effective way for an entrepreneur to find a mentor?

COMMUNITY QUESTION:

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“I found the most effective way to find a mentor is to look at your business, find the most successful business in your field, and call them. In my situation, I was fortunate that my husband knew a great deal about the business and he mentored me. I learned from his hands-on experience, and he helped me contact people who could help me if he didn’t know the answer.”— Suzan Burtic, president of Legends Limousine — legendslimousine.ca