08/23/2021 – Tokeportal’s own content

After the introduction of our first mentor, Zoltán Szép, now Andrea Dintsér answers to our questions about her mentoring activities. Andrea has 25+ years of managerial and professional experience in marketing strategy; market research; public speaking (preparation for presentations, speeches); internal and external communication; online marketing; brand building; social responsibility activities; knowledge management and customer relationship management.

Mentoring is a real value creation for me first and foremost. I find that I can make it easier for my mentees to even go through the goal phase, which direction to go, what the potentially realistic goals are for them. If the mentee has the „mountain peak” that he/she wants to conquer, I can speed it up, make it smoother, easier on its way to its destination. Like an experienced climber who accompanies you on the yet unknown road during a peak attack. My goal is steering processes in the direction of productivity, to authentically support the team in building their positive vision and the path to it step by step. Where my competence no longer reaches, I use my network of contacts to involve an expert in the relevant field.

In the other side, I am constantly learning. I have the opportunity to gain insight into the world of different entrepreneurs, sectors, ideas and disciplines, and in my own field, I can help a startup get over the difficulties.

I would like to bring one more point of view here: I always consciously spend 10-15% of my working time mentoring female-led startups. I do this because I believe that young ladies still need more encouragement and support to start moving towards the entrepreneurial world, and then later in the process of becoming an entrepreneur, being a startupper. As the leader of the Women’s Leadership Club of the Magyar Vállalatvezetők Közössége, I also experience in everyday life the enormous power that lies in the cohesion and cooperation of female entrepreneurs, and in the development of a mentor-mentee cooperation between them.

It may be an occupational hazard, but I would highlight communication first and foremost. Showing good examples, regular, consistent, high-quality publicity of the collaboration of credible mentors and mentees is essential. „Leading by example” is a perennial motto, but it is not enough to do, it must be said. By this I mean sharing the mentor’s own stories, and also getting the ladies who have already entered the startup ecosystem to share their own experiences. Whether it’s a positive story or a challenging and instructive one, we can learn a lot from it. Business storytelling has become a buzzword for a reason.

The other factor that would encourage young women to choose a career in entrepreneurship is, in my opinion, the creation of the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for entrepreneurship in an institutional framework.

I once heard or read an apt phrase about Generation Z. If I remember correctly, it went like this: you’d think they’re being on their phones, but just starting their businesses. Although they still rarely learn entrepreneurship in an institutional setting, this age group is born into the digital world, living and breathing with it. The limitless horizons of the online space have broadened their horizons. Ambitious Z people are already informed, nourished and inspired by global examples, businesses, ideas and initiatives, and they draw inspiration from them and from their own and their environment’s shortcomings. I also see that they are independent, self-aware and purposeful. I wouldn’t dare to say that in general, though, because the people I come into contact with as a mentor are all the ambitious, goal-oriented type, who want to be entrepreneurial, who want to achieve themselves and their dreams. Physical, mental and financial freedom is a priority for them. They form opinions and they speak them out loud. They have no scruples, or if they do, they can talk about them honestly and openly, which obviously helps them to solve them and move forward. Since I think and live in a similar way, and our trainee and my son are both Generation Z, this kind of approach to life is close to me and to my heart.

If you want to know more about Andrea, visit his mentorprofile.