Not long ago, our Back Bob Welschen took one of his ventures – Optibees – on a cultural outing to the Zaanse Schans. They spent the afternoon exploring the windmills, visiting the clog museum, and enjoying ‘stroopwafels’ – with plenty of time for personal conversations about home, family and Dutch culture. This helped build mutual understanding and strengthen their mentor relationship.
It’s also why Bob would encourage other mentors to step outside the meeting room from time to time:
‘When you start working with someone as a mentor, things are often quite formal and business-focused. But many ventures from abroad also face cultural challenges. Paying attention to the human side really improves the collaboration – both personally and professionally.’
Bob’s tip: choose a quieter destination… the Zaanse Schans can get pretty busy.