A
good mentor, says Tip Touch International CEO Jean-Guy de Gabriac, is a “servant leader” with a
sense of generosity to offer his or her time and expertise as a beacon of light to guide someone,
until that person realizes he or she has an
inner light. “We are all light-bearers,” de
Gabriac says, referring to leaders who value
the importance of mentorship.
Over the past 25 years, the International SPA Association
has celebrated the many generous professionals who have
shared their expertise to help strengthen the spa industry.
Some volunteered their time through formal task forces,
others shared their insights with connections made at events.
Recently, a talented group of spa leaders have formed the
Global Mentorship Pilot Program.
The program kicked off earlier this year with 17 mentors
from 20 countries and 34 mentees who benefit from
bimonthly mentorship sessions over a period of three
months. “With admissions for the 2016 sessions opening
“A good mentor is
someone who will
support and encourage
you to reach for higher
goals, challenge you
to take the next step
and push you to succeed
in your business.”
between May and the end of June, we hope to attract 50
mentors and 150 mentees in about 30 countries,” he says.
But while there’s a clear benefit to having a mentor, on the flip side, what’s the value of becoming a mentor? What
qualities should one look for in a mentor? And what makes a good mentee? Spa professionals who are part of the
Global Mentorship Pilot Program offer some key insights about the program and mentorship in general.
Jean-Guy de Gabriac
CEO • Tip Touch International
Brussels • Belgium
How will the spa industry benefit from
mentorship programs like the Global
Mentorship Pilot Program?
We believe that “we rise by lifting
others” and that one can manage things,
but not people—people need to be led. Our ambition is, relentlessly, to help spa managers become spa leaders. Rather than
merely giving answers and sharing best practices, our mentors
focus their energy on fueling the confidence of their mentees, so
that they develop their abilities to find their own solutions, and
better manage time and stress and sort priorities.
When starting out in the