Log In Mentor of the Month – John F.
Meet John, our Mentor of the Month for May! ๐
This week marks John’s 2-year anniversary volunteering with Digital Boost, so we caught up with him to find out why he loves mentoring small businesses ๐งก
Where are you based in the world?
Belfast, Ireland
What’s your day job?
Regional Ecosystem Manager at Ulster Bank and Dealmaker for Department for Business and Trade
What’s one thing you’re amazing at?
Taking complex things and simplifying them down… or in a word, storytelling.
What do you love about mentoring small businesses and charities?
Being able to play a small part in helping someone move closer to their dream is what brings me happiness.
If you could start your own business, what would it be and why?
I have, I previously launched a wifi software company. Next time it’ll definitely be something more fun. As an ex-food critic, I’d definitely love to build something that crosses over food and tech.
What’s one top tip you always share with small businesses?
Saying you’re an expert and mentor is easy to do on LinkedIn, but it doesn’t make it true. Just because you see someone wearing a vintage Nirvana 1992 Reading Festival t-shirt doesn’t mean they were at one of the most iconic concerts of all time. Investors do diligence on entrepreneurs before investing money into a business. You’re basing strategic decisions on an expert’s advice. Make sure you’ve done your own diligence to know you can rely on that advice.
If you could sit next to one famous person at a dinner party (dead or alive) who would you choose and why?
I like a raucous party, so I’ll pivot and say my dinner party is loud (with a mix of punk and grunge music blasting) so everyone can dance. And I’ll invite along Kurt Cobain, Joan Jett, and Anthony Bourdain.
