Calan Breckon • Published October 15, 2025
Mentorship can change your business and your life, but only if you know how to use it. In this conversation with mentorship expert Jennifer Petrela of Mentorat Québec’s Mentorship Accelerator, you learn how to find the right mentor, make the relationship work, and turn your strengths into results. You also get practical advice for supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs through inclusive practices. If you want clarity, momentum, and a trusted sounding board, you will find a roadmap here.
Jennifer’s journey into mentorship
Jennifer Petrela is a mentoring expert at Mentorat Québec’s Mentorship Accelerator. She studied and worked across four continents before settling in Montréal, where she designs programs that promote equity and the inclusion of diversity. She has been mentored or mentoring for about 20 years, has practiced mentorship professionally for 15 years, and for the past five years has specialized in inclusive mentorship, including support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Meeting at the QueerTech Conference
Her work stood out at the QueerTech conference in Montréal, where her session opened real conversations and led to powerful mentor and mentee matches. The feedback was clear. People wanted a space to connect, be heard, and find guidance that respected their unique path. Jennifer said she loved every minute of it and hopes to be back.
Why did she choose mentorship as a career? Because it works. She has seen mentorship turn around lives. When that happens, people become more empowered and the effect ripples out to teams and communities. In her own words, the return on investment in mentorship beats anything else she has done in a long and eclectic career.
The turning point
About five years ago, an opportunity arrived. Mentorat Québec received funding from the Status of Women Québec to build inclusive mentorship programs for women in male-dominated industries. Jennifer cleared her desk and jumped in with both feet. That decision set the course for the inclusive mentorship work she leads today.
The superpower of mentorship: revealing hidden gold
Think of Entrepreneur Mentorship as a way to bring out your best self, not a way to copy someone else. Jennifer pushes back on the idea that you are a mere mortal. Your potential is vast. You may not always have the conditions to show it, but it’s there.
The touchstone metaphor
In ancient times, traders used a black touchstone to test gold. They drew a line across the stone. If the line shone clear, the gold was pure. If it showed dull, something was off.
Mentorship works like that touchstone. The mentor helps you reveal the gold you already hold. If the line is fuzzy, the mentor helps you polish until your strengths shine through. Everyone has gold inside. Good mentorship brings it into the light.
- Draw the line, test the quality.
- Notice the clarity, or lack of it.
- Polish where needed.
- Try again until the line comes through bright and clear.
Sometimes the right match will surprise you. You might expect a marketing mentor and end up with a mentor in finance like I did. My first mentor was not at all what I was looking for but it led me to new skills in investing for my future, stronger tax habits for my business, and and overall great fit that I still have today almost 4 years later. It wasn’t the plan, but it was the right fit. The key was openness. You bring your willingness to learn, your mentor brings perspective, and together you find the path.
Not every match works, and that is fine. You can try a coffee, learn from the fit, and keep moving toward what serves you best.
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Key qualities for successful mentoring relationships
Great mentorship is a partnership. Your mindset matters as much as your mentor’s skills.
Qualities mentees need
- Open-mindedness: Be ready for guidance that surprises you. You might think you need one kind of help and find a better answer somewhere else.
- Honesty: Use the safe space. Share what is really happening. Say, “I want to try this and people think it’s wild,” or “I’m struggling with my boss.” The truth gives your mentor something real to respond to.
- Courage: Put ideas into action. Roll up your sleeves. Adjust your model. Pause the fun work to fix the hard stuff. That is where the growth happens.
Qualities mentors need
The best mentors slow down and listen hard. They observe, ask, reflect, and only then offer feedback. Jennifer teaches three pillars in her mentor trainings:
- Active listening: Listen without crafting your reply in your head. Watch body language. Use empathy. Reflect back what you hear instead of jumping to a fix.
- Powerful questions: Ask questions that draw out insight. Examples include: “What does success look like for you here?”, “What feels off about this plan?”, “What are you not saying yet?” These questions lead you to your own answers.
- Feedback: Offer feedback after listening and questioning. Keep it timely, specific, and tied to the mentee’s goals. Feedback is most useful when it reflects their aims, not your agenda.
When a mentor moves too fast, they risk shaping you in their image. That is not mentorship. The right mentor helps you develop your image, your goals, your way of working. You want someone who says, “That’s interesting, what do you think?” and then gives you the space to consider.
Navigating challenges
Many mentors get asked to mentor without training. They arrive as experts, and experts are used to giving answers. Mentorship is different. It takes practice to ask more than you tell.
Another insight from Jennifer’s metaphor. Mentors do not beat the impurities out of you like a goldsmith. Your mentor helps you test ideas and see yourself clearly. You decide what to keep, what to change, and when to act.
Respect for timing also matters, especially for people who are not in the majority. If a mentee is LGBTQ+, for example, they will come out or share parts of their identity when they’re ready. Your job as a mentor is to ask questions, offer support, and honour their pace.
Tailoring mentorship to unique individuals
If you want people to reach their full potential, you have to honour what makes them unique. That is true across the board, and it is urgent for underrepresented groups.
Practical considerations for mentors
- Rule 1: 90 percent listening, 10 percent talking. Hold your breath if you must. That is how intent your listening should be.
- Rule 2: Seek to understand before you advise. Tailor your approach to the person in front of you.
- Rule 3: Open horizons. Offer ideas that broaden the view, even if they sound a little out there. Let the mentee accept, reject, or adapt them.
- Rule 4: Respect the mentee’s solutions and timing. Do not rush their process. Your curiosity helps, pressure does not.
The role of listening in diverse groups
There is a listening problem out there. People talk over each other. Many wait to speak instead of hearing what is said. Mentors can set a different tone. Leave space. Invite the quiet voices. Do not fill every silence.
A helpful read here is the book, Bold title for emphasis: Quiet: The Power of Introverts. It reminds you that some people need longer pauses to feel ready to speak. They may even need a direct invite. That does not make their ideas less valuable. It means your patience matters.
You might be surprised who turns out to be a great mentor. Jennifer described an autistic mentor in an AI program who is not talkative in groups. He lifts his hand to mentor every year. His mentees adore him. Why? He listens and supports in a way that helps them make better choices.
If you want more tools and support beyond mentorship, explore these tools for new entrepreneurs.
Advice for seeking and thriving in your first mentorship
If you are searching for a mentor, you’re already on a strong path. People who seek mentors often do better than those who do not, even when there is no formal program.
Tips for finding the right mentor
- Avoid big-name seduction: Famous people can be inspiring, but they may not have time for you. Pick for fit, not fame.
- Leave wiggle room: Start with a coffee or two short meetings. See if you click before you commit to months.
- Look beyond loud voices: Great listeners are sometimes quiet. Tell them your intent up front. Try, “I’m seeking a mentor. Would you be open to a coffee to see if we’re a fit?”
- Be dependable: Communicate changes, show up, and honour your commitments. Mentorship is a relationship.
- Make a move: Give yourself a timeline. This week, list five potential mentors on LinkedIn. Next week, reach out to two.
Making the most of the relationship
Come to sessions clear about your questions, and be ready to think out loud. Use the time to bounce ideas. Your mentor’s job is not to hand you an answer. Their job is to help you find your answer faster and with more confidence.
Resources and next steps in mentorship
- Follow Jennifer’s work on Jennifer Petrela on LinkedIn for English articles and updates.
- Learn about programs and tools at Mentorat Québec if you read French.
- Programs to explore: Canada’s Queer Chamber of Commerce mentorship program “OUT for Business” (I’m a mentor for this program!), QueerTech’s mentorship program, Pride at Work resources, and Futurpreneur’s program that pairs business loans with formal mentorship.
Conclusion
Entrepreneur Mentorship helps you see your gold, name your path, and act with courage. You bring openness, honesty, and follow-through. Your mentor brings deep listening, powerful questions, and timely feedback. Together you create momentum. If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to a potential mentor this week, set your first coffee, and start drawing that line on the touchstone. Your clarity is closer than you think.
