Willie Neumann: External Mentor

Willie Neumann

External Mentor

“The best part is sharing in the excitement of the teams as they bring their ideas to maturity.“

 

Why do you think having an external mentor is important to the teams?

The external perspective is important especially for Intrapreneurs. They often lose sight of the importance of outside customers and the need to validate their ideas outside the corporate world.

 

Why should employees participate in the 0-1 Challenge? What’s in it for them?

Everyone in a business thinks that they have an idea for a better mousetrap. These programs give them the possibility to explore their ideas. It also provides a real perspective on how difficult it is to make something work. This helps put the business and its decisions in better perspective. Once staff realizes all that it takes to try something new, it reinforces the commitment that the company makes to them on a daily basis.

 

What was the most challenging part of being a mentor and what was the most rewarding part of being a mentor?

Specific to the 0-1 challenge, I’d say that the best part is sharing in the excitement of the teams as they bring their ideas to maturity. It is extremely refreshing to work with people who are passionate about an idea. Typical work days are flooded with interactions with people who want more, feel slighted or are unappreciative of what we do.