TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mentor training intervention for experienced entrepreneurs in order to support and advise new and early stage female entrepreneurs in an attempt to enrich the limited literature of empirical data in the area of mentor training intervention assessment.Design/methodology/approach– For the evaluation of the mentor training programme, a three‐level process has been used (reactions to training, knowledge and skills, behavior). Empirical research consists of quantitative research and different questionnaires were used to obtain information from respondents on a post basis. The sample consists of 52 mentors (experienced entrepreneurs) and 52 female mentees (early stage entrepreneurs). Descriptive statistics were generated by the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.Findings– Mentors responded positively to the training, they acquired knowledge and improved their skills, and they were able to transfer their improved knowledge and skills to their mentoring relationship and to their personal and professional lives.Research limitations/implications– Findings are based on preliminary research and a more comprehensive evaluation could be devised using pre‐ and post‐programme evaluation and resultant relationships could be further evaluated through a qualitative study.Practical implications– A mentor training intervention evaluation is needed to enhance delivery of mentoring functions tailored to the needs of female entrepreneurs. This study serves as a starting‐point for further research in the field of female entrepreneurial learning and particularly mentor training to policy makers, academics and professionals.Originality/value– Although the literature on female entrepreneurship, mentoring and training is growing, very little has been done to assess mentor training interventions. The present paper is one of the first to address and explore this issue.
VL  - 35
IS  - 7
SN  - 0309-0590
DO  - 10.1108/03090591111160814
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/03090591111160814
AU  - Sarri Katerina K.
PY  - 2011
Y1  - 2011/01/01
TI  - Mentoring female entrepreneurs: a mentors' training intervention evaluation
T2  - Journal of European Industrial Training
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 721
EP  - 741
Y2  - 2024/04/26
ER  -