Business Mentoring for All: Closing the Advice Gap for Entrepreneurs Worldwide
Micromentor was founded in response to a simple, global truth: starting and running a business is hard, and too often, entrepreneurs are offered generic training when what they really need is connection and the kind of practical, honest advice that comes from someone who’s been there. We’ve reimagined what entrepreneurial support can look like: not a course, but a conversation. One that’s easy to access, deeply human, and built around mutual respect. For over 15 years, Micromentor has supported entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities to grow their businesses by connecting them with experienced mentors - at no cost. Today, Micromentor is the world’s largest platform for business mentoring, connecting hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and mentors across the globe. And, we’re just getting started!
Backed by data. Powered by people. Built for the global majority.
Our story
Our team
The Micromentor team is a global collective of dedicated individuals, working remotely to bring mentorship within everyone's reach. Our core team collaborates across various time zones, bringing a world of experiences and insights to the table. Alongside, we have smaller, localized teams focused on specific regions, ensuring our approach remains tailored and impactful. This blend of broad vision and local focus keeps us agile and deeply connected to the communities we serve.
Micromentor Executive Team
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Anita Ramachandran is the CEO of Micromentor, the world’s leading online platform for business mentoring. Under her leadership, the platform has grown from 5,000 to over 400,000 entrepreneurs and over 100,000 mentors, with a focus on reaching those historically underserved. She led Micromentor’s spin-out from Mercy Corps into an independent enterprise, building a sustainable model that blends earned revenue and philanthropic capital. Anita introduced the Mentoring-as-a-Service (MaaS) approach, enabling companies, foundations, and governments to embed mentorship into workforce and entrepreneurship strategies at scale. She brings business discipline to social impact—implementing OKRs, agile practices, and AI-enablement—to improve efficiency, accountability, and reach. Anita is known for her grounded, trust-centered leadership. She has cultivated a strong, values-driven team culture and is regarded as a clear and steady guide through complexity. Her approach is shaped by over 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning global nonprofits, tech, and community organizing. Before joining Mercy Corps, Anita managed operations for Xerox’s North American channel marketing and eCommerce division. She is also the co-founder of SAWERA, a nonprofit supporting South Asian women and children affected by domestic violence. She serves on the boards of Relay Resources and Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation, facilitates leadership circles at Opportunity Collaboration, and has represented Micromentor at national and international forums on inclusive entrepreneurship and digital innovation. Anita holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Economics (Summa Cum Laude) and an MBA (Magna Cum Laude). She was honored with the Portland Business Journal’s Women of Influence award and the Exceptional Service award by the Chetana Foundation.
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Micromentor’s Chief Program and Impact Officer, Tatiana Perez Petrone is passionate about scaling initiatives that create meaningful, measurable change in people’s lives. She is a key architect of Micromentor’s Mentoring-as-a-Service (MaaS) model, shaping how mentorship is embedded into economic development strategies through both local implementation and global systems. Tatiana plays a central role in Micromentor’s regional expansion, having closely supported growth in Indonesia, Ethiopia, MENA, and Latin America. Her leadership ensures that the program adapts to local needs while staying aligned with global goals. She builds strategic partnerships, is Anita’s partner in securing catalytic philanthropic investment, and helps position mentorship as a powerful lever for inclusion, income generation, and business growth. With two decades of experience in economic development and social innovation, Tatiana has worked with organizations such as Ashoka and the Pathways to Prosperity Innovation Challenge. She holds a Master’s degree in Social and Community Psychology from the University of Buenos Aires and brings a grounded, relational leadership style built on empathy, insight, and systems thinking. She is a mother to an 8-year-old and lives in Mexico City.
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Guillermo Castells is the Chief Product Officer at Micromentor, where he leads product strategy, platform & business growth, and community-centered innovation to scale mentoring for entrepreneurs across the globe. A former mentor on the platform himself, Guillermo now drives the evolution of Micromentor’s digital experience, powering both its open platform and its customizable Mentoring-as-a-Service (MaaS) offering used by governments, foundations, and corporations to deepen their impact. With more than 12 years of experience in digital marketing, SaaS, and user-centered design, Guillermo’s career spans Europe, Latin America, and Africa. In 2014, he moved to Ghana to better understand entrepreneurship ecosystems firsthand, founding his own agency: The Power Station, to serve a wide range of businesses including Allianz Insurance, Mazda Motors, and Fidelity Asia Bank. His leadership style blends product vision, marketing fluency, and a passion for scaling solutions that are intuitive, inclusive, and globally relevant. Guillermo works remotely from cities around the world with bases in Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Barcelona. Outside of work, he’s a DJ, a creative collaborator, and a connector of people and ideas. He believes mentoring is one of the most powerful tools we have to unlock potential, especially in places where opportunity is unevenly distributed.
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Sara Fustolo, Chief Finance Officer at Micromentor, is a seasoned finance and operations executive with over 30 years of experience across both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She has advised on and managed a range of alternative revenue models aimed at building long-term financial stability, particularly within organizations that blend mission-driven work with market-based approaches. With a deep understanding of both nonprofit and for-profit dynamics, Sara brings valuable expertise in implementing blended financial structures that support sustainable, scalable growth. A successful entrepreneur who built and sold her own business, Sara thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments where adaptability and innovation are essential. She’s known for designing thoughtful systems, optimizing operations, and fostering empowered teams—always with an eye toward aligning financial stewardship with organizational values. Sara played a pivotal role in Micromentor’s transition out of Mercy Corps. With a keen eye for detail, a deep understanding of complex systems, and a human-centered approach to leadership, she skillfully navigated Mercy Corps’ financial and operational structures to help make the transition possible. Her ability to manage complexity while staying grounded in what was best for Micromentor and its team made an otherwise daunting process not only achievable but smooth. Today, she brings that same clarity and right-sized financial and operational oversight to Micromentor’s next chapter as an independent entity. Whether supporting new initiatives, advising on sustainable business models, or rolling up her sleeves to solve day-to-day challenges, Sara leads with integrity, collaboration, and a dose of humor.
The Micromentor specific Advisory Board members were selected based on their interest and background in mentoring, leadership development skills, fundraising and sector experience. This volunteer board does not have a governing or fiduciary role.
Micromentor Advisory Board
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Karen Doyle Grossman, President at Berkshires Strategy Group is a visionary leader in social innovation and organizational development, with a career spanning over two decades in launching and scaling mission-driven initiatives. In 2000, she conceived and launched Micromentor from the Aspen Institute, pioneering the platform that connects aspiring entrepreneurs with seasoned. Recognizing the potential for global impact, Karen later integrated Micromentor into Mercy Corps, facilitating its expansion to support entrepreneurs worldwide. Beyond Micromentor, Karen has held influential roles across various organizations. At Mercy Corps, she served as Vice President of Social Innovations. She also held executive positions at WorldTeach and the Garrison Institute, focusing on leadership development and organizational transformation. Karen’s commitment to integrating mindfulness and leadership is evident in her founding of Meditative.io, a consultancy that merges ancient wisdom practices with contemporary leadership development. Her academic credentials include a B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in Education Policy Studies from George Washington University, and an Ed.D. in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Karen is an experienced founder and executive focused on leadership development in adult learning, contemplative practice, social innovation, global development, and organizational learning, designing programs that prepare organizations for new paradigms in the face of existential challenges.
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Brian Vent is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor with a deep commitment to mentorship, entrepreneurship, and values-driven leadership. Over the course of his career, he has held senior roles at some of the most recognized consumer brands, including serving as Chief Operating Officer at Build-A-Bear Workshop and executive leadership positions at Pizza Hut, Waterworks, and other high-growth companies. His expertise lies in helping organizations scale sustainably by aligning strategy with human potential. As Co-Founder of The Giving Partners, Brian is leaning into his vast experience to support emerging social impact leaders working in the areas of health, education and economic opportunity to increase their impact through mentorship, consulting support and seed capital investments. Brian is also a longtime mentor on the Micromentor platform, where he has demonstrated an enduring commitment to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs—particularly across Africa. He believes deeply in the power of mentorship to unlock opportunity and drive inclusive economic growth. For more than seven years, Brian has served as a trusted advisor to Micromentor’s Executive Director, Anita Ramachandran, and continues to provide strategic counsel to the leadership team. His dedication to fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems globally has been instrumental in helping Micromentor expand its reach.
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Britt Rosenberg, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Mercy Corps, is a humanitarian and nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of experience building high-impact partnerships that drive social and economic progress around the world. Passionate about the power of collaboration, she has successfully secured and stewarded catalytic funding from corporations, foundations, individual philanthropists, and global communities—always with a focus on unlocking meaningful, sustainable outcomes. For over 13 years, Britt served at Mercy Corps, where she played a pivotal role in developing strategic corporate alliances that fueled innovation and expanded the organization’s reach in crisis-affected and underserved regions. Her ability to bridge sectors, align missions, and activate resources has made her a trusted partner in navigating complex challenges and designing solutions that endure. In addition to her work in traditional philanthropy and development, Britt is also a Web3 enthusiast, deeply interested in the emerging potential of decentralized technologies to democratize access, amplify voices, and reimagine the future of impact work.
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Dr. Saurabh Lall is an internationally recognized scholar whose work bridges academic research and practical application in the fields of social entrepreneurship, impact investing, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School, his research delves into how entrepreneurship can drive inclusive economic development, particularly in emerging markets and underserved communities. Saurabh's engagement with Micromentor began during his tenure as an Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon, where he brought a unique academic perspective to the organization's board. Since 2020, he has served on Micromentor’s advisory board, providing guidance on impact measurement and the use of data to connect entrepreneurs worldwide with mentors. Prior to his academic appointments, Saurabh was the Research Director at the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), where he co-founded the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI). This initiative has aggregated data from over 23,000 ventures across more than 370 accelerator programs globally, providing invaluable insights into the effectiveness of entrepreneurial acceleration programs. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from George Washington University, an M.P.P. from the same institution, and a B.E. in Electronics Engineering from the University of Mumbai. Through his research and advisory work, Dr. Lall advances the global understanding of social entrepreneurship and impact investing, with a particular focus on fostering inclusive, high-impact entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets.
Our ethos
• We build powerful human connections
We unite a global community through mentorship, embracing diversity and innovation. Our members' passion drives us towards shared, ambitious goals.
• We are bold, yet balanced
We champion bold ideas and impactful actions, balancing hard work with well-being. Our culture values empathy and celebrates collective achievements.
• We stay present, and design for the future
As optimists and entrepreneurs, we aim to democratize social capital with free virtual mentoring, breaking barriers to foster sustainable, just livelihoods.
• We serve entrepreneurs
We support entrepreneurs with mentorship to fuel business growth. Our collaborative, innovative approach centers on empowering entrepreneurial success.
• We act with integrity
We strive for excellence, embracing honesty and inclusivity. Our commitment to mentoring reflects our belief in its power to unlock potential with integrity.
Since 2008, MicroMentor has bridged geographical and cultural barriers between Entrepreneurs and Mentors, fostering connections that span the globe.
51%
percent of women-owned small businesses that reported increase in their revenue after they worked with a mentor
$84M
estimated pro-bono dollars in millions donated by mentors last year (based on the Taproot Foundation’s valuation of pro-bono consulting services)
44K
Projected jobs created as a result of entrepreneurs receiving mentoring in 2022
Micromentor Community Advisory Council
The MicroMentor Advisory Council serves as a strategic and inclusive link between Micromentor leadership and its global user community. Its core purpose is to ensure our product remains relevant, effective, and aligned with the real-world needs of its users. By offering representative feedback and lived-experience insights, the Council helps shape platform strategy, functionality, and the development of new features. Members are selected through an application and evaluation process based on business experience, commitment to mentoring, and dedication to diversity. The Council reflects a wide range of backgrounds and industries, with a strong emphasis on gender equity and representation across age groups, levels of experience, and diverse geographical contexts. This inclusive approach ensures that MicroMentor’s impact is guided by the voices of our community. Current Council members represent key global regions, including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Pakistan, and the United States.
