Exploring Principles Associated with Mentoring in International Contexts

Entrepreneurs of small- and medium-sized enterprises targeting international markets need to overcome a learning gap in order to achieve their goals successfully. In order to do so, entrepreneurs need to utilise external knowledge. The knowledge management literature describes several types of external knowledge agents, including angels, coaches, gurus, politicians and mentors. The focus of this study is limited to mentors. Mentors support entrepreneurs by providing a conceptual understanding and framework designed to ensure the entrepreneurs’ learning, development and growth. On one hand, a mentor with the correct combination of experience, silent knowledge and network is an important enabler of survival and business growth in the target market. On the other hand, finding such a mentor is a challenge for entrepreneurs. This explorative case study bridges the above-described gap by elucidating the preconditions for building international business mentor networks for Finnish entrepreneurs. At this stage, two international case contexts, Southern California and Northern Norway, were analysed in order to explore the basic principles associated with mentoring in different international contexts. The first context is an example of a gateway to a large market, and the second is a potential market within a short geographical distance. The data were collected during 2014 through 14 semi-structured face-to-face interviews conducted in key mentor networks of the case markets. The analysis provided here demonstrates the potential of business mentoring in the international context. Moreover, the preconditions and challenges presented here seek to provide sustainable guidelines for future development in this field.