Muscat: Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) conducted an engagement session for the mentors and business volunteers who will be participating in the third batch of Mentorship Programme (Inspire & Success) 2015-2016 at Riyada. This year’s programme includes 54 mentors, 16 business volunteers and 90 mentees.
Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, deputy chief executive officer for Operation of Riyada thanked the participants for their contribution to the programme. He was then apprised of the Riyada’s strategy 2016-2020 and the objectives of Riyada in launching the mentorship programme which is designed to be an annual event in order to create a platform where small and medium enterprises (SMEs) receive guidance and support from experienced mentors in a structured, open and collaborative environment.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), which is a member on the Mentorship Committee, spoke at the engagement session for the second year. The session began by addressing the programme’s roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and defining the term mentoring and the difference between coaching, training and consulting.
The session also discussed the functional skills of mentoring such as building rapport and communicating effectively with your mentor, active listening and the GROW model, and the mentoring practice.
It is worth to mention that, Riyada’s yearly mentorship programme is a trusting, one-to-one relationship between a business mentor and mentee, which aims to inspire success and celebrate Omani entrepreneurs and their businesses. Mentors provide personal experience, knowledge and motivation to inspire entrepreneurs and their businesses in order to grow and realise their potential.