Mentor Mondays: Ben Patton
Having a mentor when you're starting up can dramatically help speed the development of your business along- which is why our Virgin StartUp mentoring program is so important. Our startups don't just get funding; they also get matched to a business mentor who can help them take their business to the next level, forging invaluable connections and learning lessons along the way.
However, you don't have to even leave the house to get mentoring. Mentor Mondays is the fantastic new web series by Virgin.com that provides bite-sized mentoring from entrepreneurs in many different fields, so you can learn from some of the world's most creative business brains.
This week's entrepreneurial nugget of wisdom features Ben Patton, the president of Integrity Transitional Hospital and cofounder of Pacific Labs. His multi-faceted career started off in real estate investment banking, and he went on eventually to become a direct investment advisor to H.H Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, overseeing a portfolio of $21 billion.
Ben has started, grown and sold several companies, and Is also the cofounder of The Patton Hope Foundation alongside his brother, Matthew. Working to change the lives of struggling families and children across the world, this initiative demonstrates his belief that business goes much further than just making money – it’s a powerful tool with which to do good.
In the latest instalment of Virgin.com’s Mentor Monday series, Ben talks about how important it is to think about the social impact of your business.
“Not necessarily how your business will help strangers, but how it will help everyone – that full cycle. Not just your staff but your customers, and the family of your staff. Businesses aren’t just there to make money; they’re there to help people achieve their own dreams. Think about how you can make a beautiful company that helps people achieve their own dreams and goals.”