Top 10 business mentorships which changed industries

Finito World

Success in business is rarely achieved alone. Behind every great entrepreneur, there’s often a trusted mentor—a seasoned professional who provides guidance, shares valuable insights, and helps navigate the inevitable challenges of building a thriving career or company. Whether it’s strategic decision-making, leadership development, or overcoming setbacks, mentorship accelerates growth and provides a shortcut to wisdom that might otherwise take years to acquire through trial and error.

The world’s top business mentors have played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most successful leaders today. These individuals bring decades of experience, industry expertise, and a proven track record of helping others achieve their full potential. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner looking for guidance, learning from the best can make all the difference. Here’s a look at some of the most influential business mentors who are making an impact across industries.

1. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates met in 1991 when Gates’ mother invited Buffett to a gathering. Initially, Gates assumed they would have little in common, dismissing Buffett as just an investor. However, a deep conversation about business and strategy changed his perspective.

Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” became a mentor to Gates, teaching him about patience, long-term vision, and value investing. Gates credits Buffett with helping him focus on the bigger picture rather than short-term business pressures. One of Buffett’s biggest lessons was about reading and thinking as valuable investments of time, an idea that reshaped Gates’ approach to work.

Their mentorship transformed into a deep friendship, leading to one of the largest philanthropic commitments in history. In 2006, Buffett pledged the majority of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, demonstrating how their relationship extended beyond business into philanthropy.

Buffet once said: “Bill is smarter than I am. He works harder. He thinks through problems better. He’s a better person. So, I think the world got lucky with Bill Gates.” And Gates got lucky with Buffet too.

2. Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg

Steve Jobs played a key role in shaping Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership at Facebook. Their mentorship began in the mid-2000s when Facebook was still a young company, and Zuckerberg was navigating its rapid expansion.

One of Jobs’ biggest pieces of advice was about building a mission-driven company. He encouraged Zuckerberg to focus on a higher purpose beyond just making money. Inspired by this, Zuckerberg took a spiritual trip to India in 2010, visiting an ashram where Jobs had once sought enlightenment. This experience solidified his long-term vision for Facebook as a platform to connect the world.

Jobs also advised Zuckerberg to maintain control over his company for as long as possible. This guidance gave Zuckerberg the confidence to resist pressures to sell Facebook in its early years. Jobs’ mentorship extended to product design and user experience, influencing Facebook’s minimalist aesthetic. Though Jobs passed away in 2011, his influence on Zuckerberg and Facebook remains strong. Jobs – not always the easiest man to please – once said: “I admire Mark Zuckerberg for not selling out, for wanting to make a company. I admire that a lot.”

3. Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey credits Maya Angelou as her greatest mentor, often calling her a “mother-sister-friend.” Their relationship began when Oprah, then a young journalist, read Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and was deeply moved by its message.

Angelou became a personal mentor to Oprah, teaching her about self-worth, authenticity, and resilience. One of her most profound lessons was: “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” This wisdom helped Oprah navigate business relationships and media industry challenges.

In the early days of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Angelou encouraged her to use her platform for meaningful storytelling rather than just entertainment. She also instilled in Oprah the belief that success should be measured by the impact one has on others. This mentorship played a crucial role in shaping Oprah’s philanthropic efforts, including the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

4. Larry Page and Sergey Brin with Eric Schmidt

When Google was in its early days, Larry Page and Sergey Brin were brilliant engineers but lacked business experience. They recognised the need for a mentor to guide them through scaling their startup into a global company.

In 2001, they hired Eric Schmidt, a seasoned executive, as Google’s CEO. Schmidt became more than just a leader; he was a mentor who taught them about decision-making, leadership, and company culture. He introduced formal management systems, hiring processes, and revenue models that helped Google scale effectively.

Schmidt’s greatest contribution was ensuring Google retained its innovative culture despite rapid growth. He championed policies like “20% time,” allowing employees to work on passion projects, leading to innovations like Gmail and Google Maps. Under his guidance, Google became one of the most powerful companies in the world.

5. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford

Before founding Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford was an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company in Detroit. In 1896, he met Thomas Edison and shared his idea for a horseless carriage. Edison enthusiastically encouraged him, telling him, “Young man, that’s the thing! You have it!”

This validation from one of the world’s greatest inventors gave Ford the confidence to pursue his automobile dream. Edison’s mentorship helped Ford refine his ideas on mass production and efficiency, leading to the creation of the assembly line. Their friendship deepened, and Ford later built Edison a custom Model T as a token of gratitude.

Ford’s success in making cars affordable for the average American can be traced back to that pivotal moment when Edison encouraged him to keep going.

6. Bill Campbell with Jeff Bezos and Sheryl Sandberg

Bill Campbell, known as the “Trillion Dollar Coach,” was one of the most influential mentors in Silicon Valley. He mentored executives including Jeff Bezos, Sheryl Sandberg, and the founders of Google.

For Bezos, Campbell provided guidance on long-term business strategies, particularly during Amazon’s transition from an online bookstore to a tech giant. He encouraged Bezos to take bold risks, which led to the creation of Amazon Web Services (AWS).

For Sheryl Sandberg, Campbell was a critical mentor as she navigated leadership roles at Google and Facebook. He helped her manage teams, handle crises, and build confidence in the male-dominated tech industry.

Campbell’s mentorship was unique because he focused on personal well-being as much as business success, making him a beloved figure among Silicon Valley’s leaders.

7. Richard Branson and Elon Musk

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, mentored Elon Musk by encouraging his bold and unconventional approach to business. Branson offered Musk advice on branding, scaling a business, and public relations, which helped Tesla build its strong brand identity.

Despite being competitors in the space industry, with Virgin Galactic and SpaceX, the two have remained friends and mutual supporters. Branson’s mentorship helped Musk shape his personal brand, making Tesla and SpaceX household names.

8. Peter Thiel and Mark Zuckerberg

Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, became an early mentor to Mark Zuckerberg when he invested $500,000 in Facebook in 2004. Thiel advised Zuckerberg on business strategy and the importance of building a dominant market position.

One of Thiel’s key lessons was about avoiding direct competition by creating monopolies in new spaces. This influenced Facebook’s aggressive acquisition strategy, leading to its purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Thiel’s mentorship helped Zuckerberg navigate Silicon Valley’s venture capital world, ensuring Facebook grew independently instead of being acquired early on.

9. Jack Ma and Daniel Zhang

Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, mentored Daniel Zhang, who later became the company’s CEO. Ma believed in grooming leaders from within and recognised Zhang’s potential early on.

Zhang was responsible for creating Singles’ Day, now the world’s biggest online shopping event. Ma mentored him on long-term strategy and innovation, preparing him for leadership. When Ma retired in 2019, Zhang successfully took over, ensuring Alibaba’s continued dominance.

10. Howard Schultz and Kevin Johnson

Howard Schultz, the visionary behind Starbucks, mentored Kevin Johnson as he prepared to take over as CEO. Schultz guided Johnson on maintaining Starbucks’ unique customer experience and brand identity.

One of Schultz’s key lessons was about balancing innovation with tradition. Under his mentorship, Johnson focused on digital transformation, expanding mobile orders, and sustainability initiatives. Their relationship ensured Starbucks remained a leader in the global coffee industry.

Final Thoughts

These mentor-mentee relationships highlight the power of mentorship in shaping business success. Whether through direct guidance or inspiration, these relationships have helped build some of the world’s most influential companies. Mentorship isn’t just about passing on knowledge—it’s about transformation, leadership, and legacy.

All of these relationships have shaded into friendships – and insodoing meant that people who were destined for great things had crucial advice early on in their careers. This in turn shored them up and gave them confidence to be the best that they could be. These stories are often recent – and they always remind us that we too can aim for great things – especially if we have a mentor to help us. In fact it’s not too much to say that mentoring is a sort of golden thread which runs through the stories of the successful.