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ScholarOne - Reverse Mentoring for Inclusion to Increase Leadership Diversity
  • Buffy Howard,
  • Janie Sacco
Buffy Howard
Saint Martin's University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Janie Sacco
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Abstract

This research explored a leadership training program called reverse mentoring for inclusion where the inclusion skills of White leaders are observed, and inclusion skills strengthened. The expectation is that these White leaders, because of this reverse mentoring for inclusion program, will produce more opportunities for BIPOC’s advancement: increasing the hiring of BIPOC leaders, creating a safe space for BIPOC employees and, ultimately, resulting in more BIPOC leadership positions secured. This was a qualitative collective, bounded phenomenological case study using authentic leadership theory that explored the experience of reverse mentoring for inclusion for four participants through semi-structured interviews. The research focused on the personal experiences, challenges, and rewards of those that participated in the reverse mentor for inclusion program; difference between the mentor and mentee experience; and factors that contributed to the success of the program. The three themes that emerged from the research were: (1) the program was a positive experience, (2) relationship building and establishing trust was essential and (3) participation in the program created a sense of empowerment and ability to speak up. This research showed that reverse mentoring, as an additional pathway, could be combined with many other strategies globally, to positively impact the demographics of leadership.
23 Oct 2023Submitted to Advance
27 Mar 2024Published in Advance