Our Mentors

Throughout his career, Guy has derived great satisfaction and motivation from being in contact with entrepreneurs. As such, it was only natural for him to take up coaching upon retirement, which led to his keen interest in mentoring in a structured, recognized organization. That’s how he came to join the SADC mentoring team. 

He is at ease with businesses of all sizes. His respectful and empathetic approach allows him to understand the issues faced by the people he meets. Logical and organized, it is important for Guy to approach situations with flexibility and good humour, which allows him to play down even the most complex situations. He has facilitated several succession transactions, particularly in cases of family succession, which required finesse and good communication if all parties were to be satisfied.

He sees mentoring as a long-term collaboration to ensure the entrepreneur enjoys lasting success. 

Jocelyn is passionate about human behaviour and business performance. His training in industrial psychology and business (Executive MBA) has led him to work as an expert in leadership and talent management both in Canada and internationally. He has also developed extensive expertise in business development and marketing.

Now that he has slowed down his professional activities, he wishes to give back to the region’s entrepreneurs and share his experience. For him, mentoring is second nature. He knows how to ask questions and listen. Although he has a strong academic background, he describes himself as down to earth.

His practical approach and enthusiasm will be appreciated by entrepreneurs who face challenges.

One of the questions that Daniel Drolet is asked when talking about his experience as an entrepreneur is how he went about starting his own business after a career in journalism.

Through his involvement as a mentor, he hopes to guide people who are experiencing this challenge. Although he had close collaborators with whom he could talk while in business, he is convinced that a mentor could have saved him from stumbling along at certain points of his career.

As a consultant, he has had the privilege of following the evolution of a few companies from start-up to growth. He has gained a deep understanding of the difficulties that entrepreneurs may encounter during the different phases of their journey.

This disciplined and dedicated man hopes to stimulate the thinking of people ready to commit to their business project.

She has been immersed in entrepreneurship since the age of 6. Sylvie Florent, a chartered accountant, equates success with a sense of accomplishment, which she finds in the satisfaction and achievement of her clients’ objectives/results.
Her contribution as a mentor is motivated by the influence she can have on her mentees to help them maintain their business and ensure economic vitality in the region.

Sylvie Florent is an open-minded and attentive person who wants to help entrepreneurs find balance.

After spending 10 years as an intrapreneur within large corporations and another 10 years running her own business, Marie-Pierre is now ready to pay it forward. Having benefited from the guidance of mentors during her years at the helm of her company, she found their support to be extraordinary.

Today, as a mentor, Marie-Pierre views this role as an opportunity to continue evolving, to be intellectually stimulated, and to share the valuable lessons she has learned throughout her career. Her diverse professional background, including significant experience in accounting and the fashion industry, makes her analytical, curious, and creative.

Marie-Pierre stands out for her commitment and empathy. She is passionate about motivating entrepreneurs to take action and explore the numerous opportunities available to them. For her, mentorship is a unique chance to vent, structure her thoughts, and grow as an entrepreneur.

Is she a passionate woman? Absolutely! Sylvie has a vision of excellence that means, among other things, trusting oneself as an individual and believing in one’s own success.

“For me, success is not only the achievement of a result, it also implies – and above all – the personal and collective process to get there,” she emphasizes.

In her role as a mentor, this governance specialist wishes to contribute to the well-being of entrepreneurs and continue to learn, with humility, from their strength and courage. Her sensitive and rational approach allows her to quickly grasp what is wrong and to say it like it is.

Louise Lapointe defines herself as a mentor you can trust: a confidant who is not too complacent, who gives the right information to the mentee, who treats them with respect.

Her motivation? Knowing that she can make a difference for an entrepreneur at a time when they may need a helping hand, empathy and an outsider’s point of view. Louise has the skills to motivate entrepreneurs to act on the things they can control, to clarify their feelings and make them recognize their strengths.

For this dedicated woman, success means giving 100% and being fulfilled in everything that is important to us in life.

Louis-Martin sees mentoring as an opportunity to share his experience with entrepreneurs and business owners in the region. His calm and people-focused approach encourages openness, active listening and strategic thinking.

As Director of Economic Development, he brings over 25 years of experience in municipal management. On a daily basis, he supports economic stakeholders with their growth and innovation projects.

Louis-Martin is committed to giving back to the community by guiding entrepreneurs who are open to change, eager to develop their strengths, and ready to take on new challenges.

Coming from a computer technology background, it wasn’t long before Jean-Pierre transitioned into a management role. He developed his management style in order to help his teams to become efficient and agile in a creative and complex environment. He admits that he was not overbearing or domineering with his employees, preferring instead to listen to their ideas and promote employee engagement when it came to problem solving.  He takes the same approach with his mentees. He is a mentor so as to give back to the entrepreneurial community, but also to meet other entrepreneurs and continue to learn from his peers. Having lived through different phases as an entrepreneur, he knows he can support people who are going through challenges by helping them develop their management skills and let go, even in the most difficult of times.

Consultant and seasoned entrepreneur, André has spent the last decade developing the business he started, which has enjoyed very strong growth in the Quebec and Canadian markets. Although he has managed all facets of the company, he has learned the most about human relations. André has a knack to quickly understand the challenges and opportunities of different business models.

His aim is to equip the people he accompanies to live entrepreneurship to the fullest by helping them to maintain a balance between their professional and personal lives. For André, it’s important that the company serves to create value and benefit the people around it, always with a human touch. For him, mentoring is a way of continuing to grow and to use the experience he has acquired to help entrepreneurs navigate through their growth phase and all the other challenges presented by business development.

“Success is an art, it’s about believing”. And Martine Paiement is a Grand Master! This energetic mentor has the strength to accompany ambitious, innovative and passionate entrepreneurs focussed on growing their company.

By listening attentively and grasping the essentials, she leads the mentee to discover the big picture of opportunities, threats and barriers in the internal and external environment of the company.

A serial entrepreneur, Claude draws on wide-ranging experience with many business models across different industries. He knows how to ask the right questions and is ready to dig to find the right answers.

He has a great respect for people who start their own business and wants to contribute to the success of projects that could have an impact on the region. An advocate of participatory management, he describes his approach as “scientific and logical”. He likes to challenge the ideas of the entrepreneurs he accompanies and, at the same time, respects their decisions.

Claude is in his element when important decisions need to be made, when action is required, in situations where the status quo is not an option. He is known for his outspokenness, his ability to find practical solutions and his ability to meet challenges head on.

Geneviève set out in business in her twenties. Armed with boundless energy and determination, she put her heart and soul into her company, which grew rapidly. Over time, she surrounded herself with the right people and sought out tools to help her make informed decisions. She also learned how to mitigate delicate situations between associates. With hindsight, she now sees entrepreneurship as a journey, rather than a destination. She believes in a model of entrepreneurship that takes into account the well-being of the entrepreneur.

Geneviève describes herself as a “hands-on entrepreneur” and looks back fondly to her early days as a young entrepreneur. She wants to support those who need clarity and rigor and who aspire to develop their business while maintaining a balance.

With over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience under his belt, Christian has met many people, young and old, who were starting their own business. It is during these exchanges that he quickly realized that he could put his experience to good use.

Entrepreneurship can be challenging and for him, it is a privilege to make a difference in the lives of people in business. Christian likes to be in the thick of things and particularly appreciates people who are not afraid to take certain risks, while remaining grounded.

As he thrives on challenges and likes to be on the move, he is an ideal mentor for seasoned entrepreneurs looking to push the envelope.