Mentorship

Grow to Lead connects leaders in the arts and business communities to help strengthen the arts sector, one relationship at a time.

Program Overview

Questions? Contact program coordinator Lynn Panting at lynn@businessandartsnl.com

Business & Arts NL’s Grow to Lead Mentorship Program is designed to nurture strong, confident, and proficient arts leaders across Newfoundland and Labrador. The program connects experienced professionals from the private and public sectors with arts leaders for 10 months of cross-sector mentorship.

Launched in 2022, the program strengthens leadership across the province’s arts organizations by supporting mentees with custom guidance, professional development funding, and structured mentorship rooted in SMART goal setting. Through this experience, both mentors and mentees build long-term relationships and gain valuable skills that support not only the individual, but also the broader arts ecosystem.

Program Details

Questions? Contact program coordinator Lynn Panting at lynn@businessandartsnl.com

Each mentor/mentee pair:

Commits to three hours of mentorship per month for ten months
Sets SMART goals with support from Business & Arts NL
Accesses a $2,000 discretionary fund for professional development
Receives monthly check-ins and tailored programming based on shared learning needs

Business & Arts NL handles all coordination, feedback, and evaluation to ensure high-impact results.

Program Impact

Questions? Contact program coordinator Lynn Panting at lynn@businessandartsnl.com

Mentees consistently report increased leadership confidence, improved organizational strategy, and expanded networks.
Mentors describe the experience as energizing, inspiring, and mutually rewarding.
Alumni remain connected, creating an informal network of arts leaders across the province

What people are saying about the program:

Jessica Brown, Mentee

The Grow to Lead mentorship program exceeded my expectations and left a profound impact on my journey as an Indigenous woman entrepreneur. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone contemplating it. The guidance and support I received from my mentor, who brought a wealth of experience to the table, proved to be invaluable. Not only did I gain practical knowledge and skills, but I also forged a lasting relationship with my mentor, which continues to benefit me even after the program. I am immensely grateful to Business and Arts NL for creating such a wonderful experience that has enriched my professional growth in countless ways.
Nicole Dawe, Mentor

Being a part of the Grow to Lead Program was a wonderful experience. I appreciated learning from all of the other participants and the challenges and opportunities they were working through. It was an inspiring group to be a part of and I left individual and group sessions feeling like I'd given and received an immense amount.
Amanda Penney, Mentee

This mentorship has meant the world to me. It has been the most valuable tool that has both strengthened my leadership skills as a manager of an artist-run centre, and built my confidence to a level where I am regularly making and presenting as a professional visual artist. Working with an artist who has achieved so much in her career and has so much knowledge and wisdom to share has been a gift. The program exceeded my expectation on all levels and I will never forget the experience.