Call for Mentors

IVN's Economic Development Program

What is a mentor? Mentors are members of the IVN Network who are some of the leading business entrepreneurs in Israel and the US with many years of business, strategic, technical and financial expertise to share. IVN has introduced mentorship and management know-how as key ingredient of our methodology across all our initiatives. Mentorship is done on a volunteer basis.

Background

IVN's Economic Reconstruction Initiative (IERI) began towards the end of 2006, triggered by the Second Lebanon War. The war highlighted and exacerbated longstanding difficulties facing the economic structure of Northern Israel, in particular small and medium businesses. IERI was established to stimulate business growth in Israel's Northern periphery. The scalable model consists of professional business consultancy, mentoring and lending for small businesses, combined with strengthening and empowering regional MATIs (Small-Medium Business Development Centers). The strengthening of the MATIs goes hand in hand with IVN's philosophy of strengthening existing infrastructure (i.e. governmental offices, public institutions, etc.) rather than replacing them. The businesses involved also have access to the IVN network.

To date, 140 small-medium businesses are part of the initiative, a significant number of them Arab owned. We are working with 20 regional business consultants and approximately 20 IVN mentors. Initial indicators show real signs of success using this model, both from a financial and managerial perspective.

Expansion to the South

Due to IERI's success in the North, IVN was approached by the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor (MOITL) in the hopes of offering suitable and adequate response in the South. Since having being approached, IVN has conducted in depth research regarding the needs of the South, specifically in the areas of Beer Sheva and the surrounding cities, i.e. Netivot, Sderot, Ofakim etc.. The support of course extends to Bedouin owned business. The goal is to raise the standard and effectiveness of the business and economic fabric of the area.

The Negev has been a much neglected area, despite its large and diverse population. We have the opportunity to affect real change in the area.

Call for Mentors

As part of economic development program, we are seeking volunteer mentors for local business consultants and local businesses in both the north and south. The mentor is expected to assist the consultant and the business owner/s by coaching on long-term strategic development of the businesses and expansion processes. The mentor is expected to meet the consultant and/or visit the business monthly (1 full day every month and a half) and keep an open channel for ongoing long-distance consulting. Whereas the consultants are effective on the tactical level, the mentors provide a broad managerial, strategic and business development overview.

For more information about partnering with the IVN's economic development program, please contact Ron Gerlitz at ron.gerlitz@ivn.org.il.

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