What if mentorship could transform not just individual businesses, but entire communities?

After a 40-year banking career, we introduce you to Bruce Taylor, a figurehead in Chicago business. Taylor has made it his mission to help uplift the next generation of leaders through 1:1 mentorship programs that are changing the landscape of the Chicago business community for the better.

In today’s episode, Taylor, former president of Cole Taylor Bank and founder of The Next Level Exchange, shares the principles of effective mentorship, why questions are more powerful than advice, and how creating economic opportunity lifts everyone up.

Oh, and Bruce just so happens to be Ashley’s mentor, too. In this candid conversation, they talk about what effective mentorship for entrepreneurs really looks like—and why great mentors don’t give advice, they ask better questions. Because, let’s face it, entrepreneurship is emotional…and sometimes lonely.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

✨ How to build an effective mentor-mentee relationship

✨ Why giving advice often backfires (and what to do instead)

✨ The keys to creating economic opportunity in overlooked communities

✨ How mentorship changed Bruce's approach to parenting adult children

✨ The power of being a "sponge" when building a business

✨ What it really takes to start and grow a successful venture

✨ How Bruce built The Next Level Exchange from scratch into a platform that has paired nearly 300 mentors and mentees

… and so much more!

Connect with Bruce:

LinkedIn

Email: btaylor@taylorpartnerssbr.com

Website: http://www.Nextlevelexchange.org

Connect with Ashley:

Instagram @ashleydlogan

Website https://ashleydlogan.com/

Resources Mentioned

• The Next Level Exchange
• Chicago Urban League
• Sunshine Enterprises
• Women's Business Development Center

Have a topic or guest you’d love to see featured on the Unapologetically Yours podcast? Send us an email: podcast@unapologeticallyyours.com