Entrepreneur Life - November 2019

A conversation between
a Mentor and a Mentee
WITH MARS COWLEY-SMITH AND CHRIS THOMPSON
HOW DO YOU GUYS KNOW EACH OTHER?
Chris: I started as a BA in Mars’ Marketing Company.
Mars: Let me correct him there because that’s not
actually right!
Chris: Hahaha
Mars: Here come the differences: What actually happened
is that Chris applied for work in one of my Marketing
Companies in Newcastle. That was something like 10 or 12
years ago?
Chris: Yes, I’d say 10 years ago!
Mars: And he applied for the admin role up in Newcastle
where I was doing all the interviews for the role. So, I ended
up interviewing him.
Chris: But she didn’t give me the job!
Mars: Haha, Well I thought that Chris wasn’t fit to be an
administrator, but I could see him becoming an Owner.
So, I told the new Owner that was in the building: You need
to get this guy in the field, he’ll be far more suited to be an
Owner than an administrator. So that’s actually how we met.
Chris: That’s genuinely true!
Mars: Chris worked in that Marketing Company with the
new Owner for a while and then ended up leaving the
industry. But when he wanted to come back, I convinced
him to come to my Marketing Company down in London.
Chris: I remember I was going to come back to the industry,
and I thought about the fact that If I’m going to come
back, I have to do it right. Other Owners across the UK
were offering me better commission, and Mars was the
only one who said: You start again from the bottom,
if you’re going to come back, you have to do it properly!
And I wanted to do it the right way, so I had to choose
Mars’ option which also meant moving to London.
IS THAT WHEN YOUR MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP BEGAN?
Chris: I would say she was always a mentor to me from the
moment I joined the industry in Newcastle, but, really,
I suppose it was when I came back the second time.
Mars: I think the move to London was the defining moment
because he was moving away from his parents, brothers
and sisters, from his family and friends
WOULD YOU HAVE MENTORED ANYONE ELSE?
Mars: I would have done it with anyone else for sure,
if someone proved to me, they were up for it. You’re
looking for a level of ambition in somebody. To encourage
someone to move away from their family and friends is big,
so for him to make that move, I personally needed to feel
like he could win! I wouldn’t have encouraged him to do it
if I didn’t believe he could become an Owner.
12 • Entrepreneur Life • November 2019