We have perfected the art + science of matching people! Mentoring is all about making the right match. At Pollinate we have perfected the art of strategically matching individuals for productive mentoring experiences. Founded in 2008, Pollinate Networks Inc. specializes in providing mentoring and collaboration programs. We accelerate knowledge transfer, build competencies, and amplify diversity and inclusion. Our programs match people to create the right conversations at the right time to accelerate growth, productivity, and success. We apply our matching intelligence, proven program structure, diverse range of experts, best practices, and tracking and reporting to achieve your specific objectives, while ensuring the experience is highly rewarding, enjoyable, and productive for all concerned. Pollinate Networks Inc. works with clients operating across a variety of industries and sectors. Our flexible, expressive matching algorithms feature two seamless pieces that give groups and pairs the best possible chance of success. Cross-Pollinate AI™ enables you to gather relevant information on experiences, expertise, goals, competencies, and preferences. We then pair it with our proprietary psychometric tool, the Knowledge Transfer Index (KTI), which is designed specifically to balance collaboration styles. This enables Pollinate to deliver a predictive system for creating successful learning groups and teams.
Q: When was the moment you first knew you were meant to be an entrepreneur?
Very, very early. Maybe not “lemonade stand” early, but certainly when I was 14 folding clothes at the dollar store, I had a lot of dreams and ideas about things I could do in the world to support myself and make the world better. Business itself has always been a fascination. I had some great business mentors early days who helped me understand what it would take to get a company running – and keep it running.
Q: What is the most important piece of advice you would give to others who are starting their own business?
As you get things going, find reliable suppliers for the things that you find time consuming or that don’t come naturally. For me that was “get a bookkeeper”! Those details are important and you need them at your fingertips. Starting up with a ton of things to do, it was easy to let receipts and documentation pile up. Having someone keep those details up to date for me was so helpful.