Our Mission


To support business owners in advancing their business capability and capacity, to enjoy real, sustainable success – through the sharing of knowledge and experience from skilled business people who are able to gift their time and expertise.

Our Network

Business Mentors New Zealand is an independent not-for-profit organisation. Our national service is able to maintain a regional focus through our 17 agencies, whose coordinators match local Mentors with local business people (Mentees).

We have a close working relationship with MBIE, ensuring we have access to relevant business development and growth initiatives that complement our business mentoring service. Our regional Coordinators:

  • Engage new local Mentors and support existing Mentors.
  • Assist local business people in engaging with the mentoring service where applicable.
  • Support Mentors and Mentees with their mentoring relationship.

 

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Our Mentors

Mentor support is provided by experienced business people who are motivated to help others succeed. They have at times struggled in business, and through persistence, skill and learning had well-deserved success. 

Many benefited from the support of mentors themselves, to avoid mistakes and gain knowledge that saved them valuable time and money. This insight and recognition of the value of mentoring makes them, in turn, great Mentors.

Our Business Mentors are as diverse as the business people we support, with generalist and specialist business skills offered by over 1,800 Mentors nationally. Our Mentor Coordinators work alongside Mentors and Mentees to ensure the right match for a productive and rewarding mentoring relationship.

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Our Team


We are a committed, passionate group of people focused on helping small business owners succeed, for the betterment of businesses and the communities they directly impact.

Sarah Trotman

Sarah Trotman

Chief Executive

We are thrilled to have Sarah Trotman, ONZM re-join our team as Chief Executive of Business Mentors New Zealand. Sarah has had her own businesses over many years and has been a strong advocate for business owners throughout her career. She previously held the role of Chief Executive of Business Mentors New Zealand between 2000 – 2003, when she grew the service to a point where we were mentoring 5,000 business owners per year. Sarah looks forward to exploring how we, as an organisation, can further support our small business community. 

Brook Tracey

Brook Tracey

Business Services Coordinator

Brook is excited to be working for a Non-Profit Organisation that does amazing work for the small business community. Brook graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science focused on sustainability and economics. Her role with Business Mentors as a Business Services Coordinator and Virtual Champion is to provide a high level of support to the Chief Executive and the wider BMNZ team and to answer customer service inquiries. As a Virtual Champion, Brook oversees the matching and mentoring of the virtual mentors and engages with all BMNZ Mentors available for virtual mentoring. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and pet sitting.

Wilma Jorme

Wilma Jorme

Regional Mentor Executive

Wilma was born and raised in Sweden and moved to New Zealand in 2018. She has been exploring New Zealand, working, studying for a Diploma in Business Studies at Massey University, and has now taken on the Mentor Champion role at Business Mentors. Her job includes supporting mentors across the country with Mentor Hub and updating their preferences. She also handles the BMNZ inbox and the day-to-day administration. Wilma is thrilled to work for a not-for-profit organization and is passionate about helping people. Outside work, she enjoys cooking, travelling, spending time with friends, and going to the beach.

June Robinson

June Robinson

Agency Manager

June joined Business Mentors New Zealand in 2019, bringing her extensive knowledge from a diverse and successful career within the not-for-profit, education and recruitment sectors. June’s areas of expertise are business and stakeholder relationship development, managing client relationships and partner engagement and support, which makes her perfect for managing Auckland’s Mentor/Mentee matches. June is passionate about delivering services and solutions that truly enhance New Zealander's lives.

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Hannah Rustenhoven

Marketing, Communications & Events Coordinator

 

Hannah is passionate about business and loves helping others succeed, which led her to join Business Mentors as Marketing, Communications and Events Coordinator. Hannah graduated with degrees in both Business Studies and Communications Studies and loves combining business with creativity. Hannah is a part of the Business Mentors marketing team and assists in activities including the production of marketing materials, event organisation, and general communications. 

Leo 2-2

Leo Grachev

Campaigns and Partnerships Liaison

 

With experience in community engagement and retail management, Leo values the contribution of businesses and recognises the need to empower them with the tools to succeed in an ever-changing market. He is enthusiastic about working in the business support space, leveraging his experience to foster meaningful partnerships and drive impactful campaigns.

 

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