Many gifts can be realized from business mentoring
By Rebecca Reimers
There’s nothing more thrilling than a new business and a new business person grabbing onto their idea and trying to do something with it,” asserts Bill Haaland, Silicon Couloir TEAMS mentor. “I get goosebumps just talking about it.”
A serial entrepreneur, Bill doesn’t take the opportunity to pursue dreams for granted.
Haaland’s LinkedIn profile is telling: Business builder and leader / founder / consultant / contributor / changer / outdoor enthusiast. This is a person who is clearly looking to make a difference and who isn’t afraid of taking risks.
Following a long and successful career as a CEO in the financial insurance sector then as a founder of a business process outsourcing company, Haaland and wife Nancy relocated to the valley from Oklahoma City in August of 2018. Following a visit that same June they were certain they had found their new home. Two years ago he became an entrepreneur yet again with the establishment of Valley Rock Capital, a real estate finance brokerage founded in partnership with his son, George.
Haaland quickly found his tribe in Silicon Couloir, where he has been a dedicated and valued member in our mentoring program: Teton Entrepreneurs and Mentoring Services — TEAMS. Haaland previously served as a coach and judge for an innovation organization pitch event in the Midwest. Now he volunteers on three mentoring teams, two of which he leads.
Strong mentors have played a significant role in Haaland’s own life. His father passed away when he was only 22, at “about the time when a mentor would be useful.” He found role models in both his father-in-law and grandfather. He recalls watching his grandfather, who taught by example, patiently prepare to saw plywood by carefully moving the cord into the correct position for a successful outcome. That simple lesson has become a metaphor for the importance of taking the time to lay the foundation with proper preparation for a quality and enjoyable result.
While Haaland gives generously of his time and expertise to young entrepreneurs, he feels that he’s also the beneficiary in the process.
“There’s an element that’s selfish to my involvement with Silicon Couloir,” he said. “It’s exceedingly valuable to be around and immersed in it and to get to rub elbows with this group. It’s entirely motivating.”
His excitement is palpable as he describes the background diversity and depth of his fellow mentors: “I would imagine the intellectual capital at Silicon Couloir would rival anything in the country.”
Beyond Haaland’s substantial professional experience, he brings an infectious and genuine interest in people. He’s a networker by nature. If he meets you at an event, don’t be surprised if he calls you for a coffee get-together.
He often asks new acquaintances to introduce him to friends. He truly wants to learn about others and share ideas — a refreshing take in today’s increasingly divided and screen-dominated society.
“The more we’re connected,” he says, “the better everything works.” Experience has taught him that the payoff is so much greater than the risk of rejection.
Haaland is an advocate for inperson meetings. Zoom is convenient, but that pales in comparison to the in-themoment volley of ideas and strategies that can be realized in the best person-to-person interactions.
Haaland is also a collaborator. When asked what characteristics make for a good mentor, mentioned the willingness and importance of checking the ego.
In TEAMS a group of three to four mentors meets with the venture founder, who creates an agenda based on challenges and needs. The result is robust conversation and problemsolving from a variety of perspectives and approaches. Mentors work as a group to give the best guidance possible to the mentee based on a range of experiences.
“The last thing we want is the entrepreneur to be overwhelmed by a dominant personality,” Haaland said.
In a very real sense this openness to new ideas and perspectives gives mentors like Haaland as much opportunity to learn as the mentees.
“There’s just so much to be gained and shared,” he said. “The issues we face as business people are the same, whether it’s a little business or a huge business ... you’re equally valid.”
“We all learn in different ways,” Haaland said when asked about the value of TEAMS to the entrepreneur. “The opportunity for these entrepreneurs to hear business theories, principles and ideas from different perspectives is so much more valuable than if it were just one of us.” In the midst of the chaos of starting a business, taking the time to lay the foundation is crucial. The mentor group is able to stand back and see the bigger picture, so entrepreneurs can focus and deliver on their promise. Haaland is acutely aware of the challenges facing the Teton region.
“A community with socioeconomic diversity is healthier than one without. Doing whatever we can to generate jobs and help families to stay here is one of the ways we can help,” Haaland said. “That’s why I think Silicon Couloir is so important.”
TEAMS is adding new companies every month.
Those interested in being a part of the program as a mentor or a mentee can visit SiliconCouloir.com/teamsmentoring.