The Step Ahead One-On-One Mentoring Program is designed to assist growth-oriented women entrepreneurs in developing their businesses through one-on-one mentoring and coaching and a skills development program. Step Ahead has recently updated its curriculum to reflect
changes in business environments and technology and to ensure it remains the premier mentoring and educational
program for women entrepreneurs.  

Step Ahead participants own businesses in
all industry sectors, collectively employ thousands of people and generate over half
a billion dollars in sales each year. Our "Women Business Owners Mentoring for Growth" approach is practiced both formally and informally throughout the year-long program. 


What You Get
Workshop Curriculum and Dates
Fee
How to Join
Risk-free Offer

The Step Ahead One-on-One Mentoring Program includes two major components:
  ✔  A one-on-one mentoring relationship between the protégée and mentor who spend a minimum of three hours together each month; and
  ✔  Ten monthly educational workshops that bring together all protégées and mentors to hear real-world advice from dynamic guest speakers and participate in roundtable discussions about business growth and challenges. The workshops address the following topics through both instructor-led lectures and a variety of interactive techniques. (Light dinner included with all workshops.]

Looking to continually improve and deliver the best experience for both protégées and mentors as possible, Step Ahead has recently updated and revitalized its curriculum.  Here is the line-up for the 10 workshops during the year:

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Workshop #1 Welcome and Introduction to Program
• Expectations
     »Managing the mentor/protégée relationship
     »Expectations from the course
     »How to make the most of it
• Components of expansion planning
• Vision, mission & core values
     »Are they clear?
     »Who needs to know?
• Business plan
     »Importance of creating one
     »Who needs one and how to use it
     »Elements of a good business plan – from conception to exit strategy

Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Workshop #2 Defining Your Competitive Edge
• Market research
• What is market research
• Why and how to conduct it
• How to define your target market
• How to use the information to position yourself in a competitive marketplace
• Product and service pricing

Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Workshop #3 Fundamentals of Finance
• Accounting principles
• Interpreting financial statements
• Forecasting costs and revenues
• Banking relationships/ How to talk to bankers
• Financial analysis
• Creative financial management
• Cash flow vs. profit

Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Workshop #4 Marketing
• What does it mean – understanding difference between marketing and sales
• How to market your product/service (benefits vs. features)
• Choosing an agency or do it yourself
• Unique selling proposition – what is it and why is it important
• Promotional strategies – direct mail, advertising, e-marketing and e-commerce, PR, networking
• Determining a budget and how much to spend on marketing
• Tracking results and making informed decisions

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Workshop #5 Sales
• Sales planning and process
• Managing sales staff, including incentives/bonuses
• Up-selling, cross-selling
• Web site as sales tool

Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Workshop #6 Managing People
• Leadership
• Attracting, retaining and talented employees
• HR issues
• Human rights/laws
• Compensation (e.g., stock ownership, profit sharing and bonus plans)
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
• Benefits and perks
• Firing
• Dealing with customers and providing superior service
• Developing client relationships

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Workshop #7 Technology
• Customer relationship management (CRM) tools – why and how to use
• E-Business, e-commerce – do you need it
• Setting up and maintaining an effective web site
• Optimizing your site for search engines
• Tracking results
• Selecting and leveraging mobile technology
• Back-up systems
• Hiring professionals, or do it yourself

Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Workshop #8 Managing Business
• Property management, renting, leasing
• Proper filing of government payments
• Managing Accounts Receivable and supplier credit successfully
• Developing supplier relationships
• Legal issues
• Ethics – expectations of governance

Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Workshop #9 Growth Strategies
• Accessing capital for expansion
• Getting financing/funding options for expansion
• Bargaining with financiers
• Establishing advisory boards
• Going global through trade and exporting
• Establishing partnerships and alliances

Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Workshop #10 Work-Life Balance and Program Wrap-up
• Work and family: challenges and strategies for developing balance between work and life
• Action plan and implementation schedule for expansion

* Subject to Change

How to Join
Download an application form to join
the One-on-One Mentoring Program.

Want to Check Us Out First? 
Try our Risk-free Offer!
Before making a decision to sign up for
our year-long program, you can attend
and participate in one of our monthly
evening workshops to see first-hand
what Step Ahead is all about – the
program, the people, the experience.
Value:  $150. Cost to you: only $50,
which even includes a light dinner!  Should you choose to join Step Ahead, this $50 fee will be put toward your $1,495 tuition for the full program.

Contact us