There are many more people in our communities who would pursue the founder path if they knew someone was looking out for them, not just their company. The opportunity cost of not listening to the needs of underrepresented founders is too great to ignore.

If you are a founder who is really determined to make it happen in a rural community, there's no question the road ahead will be tough. But the support you receive will be tremendous and you'll build your venture knowing there are many others doing the same thing willing to share their stories and best practices.

Mentorship is ultimately about human connection and how vital that is to our success and progress. Mentorship makes the world a better place... by magnitudes. It causes us to pause, disconnect from our phones, consider the welfare of others, and open our hearts and minds to learn.

Regardless of where you are in your founder journey, Give First is there to see you through good times and tough times. I encourage you to join me in practicing Give First. Ask yourself how you can help a fellow founder today. The results just may surprise you.

The challenges of our current workforce shortage will only be solved when we become active participants in the promotion and development of talent.