When you’re working in and on the business, it’s important to surround yourself with supportive people who can help guide you through your journey.

One of the ways to do this is by bringing a business mentor on board.

Business Mentors NZ is a national programme delivered locally through the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce to pair local business owners with experienced mentors.

Business owners join the programme for numerous reasons: Some like to be held accountable to reach their goals, some like having someone to bounce ideas off or listen to them (outside their family and friends), and some want a third party to think through challenges with them.

One of our local mentors is Lynette McClatchy (pictured, left, with Chamber CEO Matt Cowley). Starting her career as a chartered accountant working for various business in Auckland and overseas, Lynette and her family moved to Sydney in 2004, which is where she developed her own business Choices Gluten Free.

Like many business owners, her business was born from a need within her own circle: Her family. As a group that needed to “navigate various food allergies”, this had an impact on the types of meals they could cook and products they had access to.

“I figured we couldn’t be the only family in this situation and believed there was a real need for quality products catering for allergies, something that was not being met in the Sydney market at the time.

“I spent a year working out how I wanted the business to look, including factoring my family’s needs into the mix. Then, I set about putting together a selection of recipes, researched how to produce these on a commercial scale, and found suitable equipment and premises.”

In 2008, Choices Gluten Free became a reality. Four years and a few additional retail shops later, Lynette custom built a larger factory and opened to both online and wholesale customers throughout Australia’s eastern seaboard. This went on to supply major hospitality brands including Accor Hotels, Hyatt, Qantas, Hilton and Convention Centres.

Given her experience was not in the food manufacturing industry, Lynette says the learning curve was “huge, but also exciting and fun”.

“As this type of business did not exist in NSW at the time, trying to source supplies was challenging and finding staff was also difficult as people perceived the business as ‘alternative. I had to wait a couple of years to turn this thinking around and eventually suppliers came to me.

“I also developed an amazing team of long-term people. For me, it never felt like work as I was very passionate about the business and knew I was making a positive impact. It is an amazing feeling when customers come into the shop and get emotional because their life just got easier, and you realise you are making a difference.”

In 2019, she and husband David returned to Mount Maunganui to retire and, with the breadth of business experience she had gained over the last 35 years, Lynette wanted to help other business owners.

“I felt I could add value and make a difference by sharing my knowledge and experiences, by supporting other small business owners and believed that mentoring was a good fit.”

As she works with a wide range of mentees, all with individual needs and business, Lynette says she has a flexible approach to her sessions, but the biggest thing for her is that the mentee is empowered to discover and enjoy their own journey.

“I believe it is their journey and I am there to support in any way I can, so I focus on challenging their thinking and what they are wanting to achieve, pointing out the cost/benefit or pluses and minuses of various options, sharing similar experiences which often helps them get ideas and keeping them focused on their objectives.

“I do point out that every decision has trade off implications, and the mentee needs to make their own decisions with this in mind as priorities differ.

“This is particularly evident when the business owner is also juggling family commitments and what is right for the business can conflict with what works for the family. But once they have made their decision, I encourage them to own it (and the consequences).

“I am an advocate for keeping things simple – don’t make it complicated! There are many ways to achieve an outcome. The key is to find the way that is right for the mentee.”

One of the biggest ongoing challenges for new and small business owners is finding the balance between working in the business versus on the business.

“Business owners do need to understand their risks, but do not need to do everything themselves.  Surrounding yourself with the right support people is important. I see money wasted on ineffective support as the owner didn’t fully understand the service being provided.

“Likewise, some owners get overwhelmed with menial time-consuming tasks they could outsource so they can concentrate on controlling and growing the business.”

Being invested in someone’s business, seeing their journey and sharing in its successes, is what makes mentoring incredibly rewarding for Lynette, adding that she has “met so many amazing people who are passionate about their business – I know that feeling!”

To anyone considering joining the mentoring programme, what would she say?

“Just do it. Who knows, the mentees may teach you something as well!”

Business Mentors NZ is a support service offered as part of the Regional Business Partner Network (RBP) and delivered locally by Tauranga Chamber of Commerce.

Mentors volunteer their time, but a registration fee is required to cover some operational costs of the programme. Once registration is received, you will be matched with a mentor that best suits your needs. You can find out more here.

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