Photo: Patrick Rahme and Xavier Buck
Patrick Rahme, founder of the start-up All Square, and Xavier Buck, confirmed entrepreneur, were introduced to each other through the Business Mentoring programme, respectively as mentee and mentor.
They share with us their feedback on this 18-month relationship.
Why did you decide to become a mentor and a mentee?
Xavier: I wanted to participate in the Luxembourg ecosystem and to give something back. I have been myself an entrepreneur and made some mistakes when starting, so I know how hard it is. I was really looking to participate and share my experience.
Patrick: I decided to become a mentee to learn from someone who has gone trough the hard times of an entrepreneur. Someone who has already learned from his mistakes and who in turn would help me maximize chances of success. The road to success is long and difficult and you have to surround yourself with people you trust. When I first met Xavier, I realised that the Business Mentoring Program would be key to achieving certain milestones with my startup and also on a personal level. I am convinced that a good relationship with a mentor will always have a strong impact on anyone’s personal development. In my case, I find it reassuring to be able to discuss strategic matters regarding finance, IT or human resources with a person who truly understands the consequences of each of those decisions. I love to learn from others and I believe I still have a lot to learn from Xavier who is an excellent role model.
Today it has been 18 months that you started the Mentoring relationship. What are the key progresses that you have noticed?
Patrick: Xavier’s mentorship has had a direct impact on my personal development, which is directly linked to my startup’s activity. However, it is difficult to measure the impact of this mentorship on the turnover or the number of employees. In the last 18 months, we have achieved many successes. We've put together a skilled team and built a great company culture. We have grown from 2 founders to a team of 11. My startup has also gone through two fund raisings, which gives us enough resources to start scaling our product and keep expanding internationally. Xavier has been a great mentor and guided me through strategic decisions. I would like to thank him for his time, dedication and great advice during the mentorship. He has been an excellent mentor and today I consider him as a friend.
Xavier: When I met Patrick they had a mock-up up and running for a niche activity answering to very specific need. But they also had a vision that I liked straight from the start and I’m glad I guided them to build it.
Xavier Buck: "It is for sure a win-win situation."
Would you define the Mentoring program as a one-way help or a win-win situation?
Xavier: It is for sure a win-win situation, there is always an exchange in which you learn from the other person from a different business area. It is very interesting to see how someone else thinks his company or strategy through, how he tackles today’s issues.
Would you recommend the Business Mentoring program?
Patrick: The BusinessMentoring program offers interesting opportunities to grow as an entrepreneur and leader. There are different aspects of the program that made me join. First of all, I find the team behind the program very professional and they organize many networking events for mentees and mentors to exchange experiences. I also believe that the success of the program comes from a thorough selection process for mentees as well as for mentors. Mentorship is more than just a support to an entrepreneur, it is about creating strong relationships between people who share a common passion for entrepreneurship or a specific industry. I highly recommend the Business Mentoring Program to any entrepreneur.
Xavier: I would also suggest everybody to join the programme. It is also a great way to challenge yourself and improve your own skills.
Do you have anything to add?
Patrick: I would like to encourage young graduates to follow their dreams and choose entrepreneurship as their career path! Luxembourg is a great place to start a business, so don’t hesitate and get started!
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