Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring

FOREWORD

We have known about the importance of mentoring for developing people and organizations for several decades. Organizations are more frequently turning to mentoring as a solution for a range of their needs, from early socialization to talent management to leadership development. Despite acknowledging the power of mentoring, few organizations have successfully leveraged it as part of their overall strategy. Many individuals report not having access to the benefits of mentoring, and this lack of access is especially true for women and people of color. There is also an ongoing debate over the value of “formal” mentoring, with many arguing that it is less effective than informal, self-determined types of mentoring. Thus, despite its popularity, ...