Reverse mentorship: when leaders listen to their employees | Patrice Gordon | TEDxShoreditch Women

Summary

In 2018, Patrice, a People Experience Officer at Virgin Atlantic, was asked to be a mentor in a reverse mentoring program, where CEO Craig would be the mentee. Reverse mentoring involves a senior leader learning from someone with different experiences, often from underrepresented groups. Patrice, a black woman, shared her viewpoints to help Craig become a more inclusive leader. The talk highlights the importance of reverse mentoring for fostering empathy, challenging biases, and driving inclusion in organizations. It also discusses the need for psychological safety and voluntary participation in such programs.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Reverse mentoring is a process where a senior leader is mentored by a junior or someone from a different demographic group to gain new perspectives and foster inclusivity.
• 👤 The CEO of Virgin Atlantic, Craig, was willing to be a mentee to understand the experiences of a black woman in the workplace, highlighting the importance of leadership's role in promoting diversity.
• 💼 The speaker's experience in various organizations showed her commitment to driving inclusion, emphasizing the need for leaders to use their power to effect change.
• 🔄 The concept of similarity bias was discussed, explaining why leaders often surround themselves with people like themselves, which can limit diversity in decision-making.
• 📊 Statistics revealed the underrepresentation of women, particularly women of color, in top leadership positions, such as CEOs in the Fortune 500 companies.
• 🤝 Reverse mentoring is not just about learning from difference but also about building empathy and understanding through genuine human connection.
• 🚀 The speaker's personal journey with reverse mentoring involved a mutual curiosity between her and Craig, which led to a transformative experience for both.
• 🌐 The script touched on global trends like the digital revolution, demographic shifts, urbanization, and climate change, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives in leadership.
• 🤔 The importance of psychological safety in reverse mentoring was highlighted, suggesting that organizations must create an environment where underrepresented individuals feel secure sharing their experiences.
• 📈 The script suggested steps for successful reverse mentoring programs, including clear objectives, voluntary participation, and a focus on action and learning from experiences.

Q & A

What is reverse mentoring?

Reverse mentoring is a program where a senior leader, often lacking diversity in their inner circle, is mentored by someone from a different demographic or with different experiences, typically to gain insights and perspectives that can help them become more inclusive leaders.

Why did Patrice agree to be a reverse mentor?

Patrice agreed to be a reverse mentor because she had a history of driving inclusion in organizations she worked for and saw this as an opportunity to use her power to drive change, challenge assumptions, and help leaders understand different viewpoints.

What was Patrice's role at Virgin Atlantic before becoming a reverse mentor?

Before becoming a reverse mentor, Patrice was the Head of Commercial Finance at Virgin Atlantic.

What initiatives did Patrice establish at Virgin Atlantic to promote inclusion?

Patrice established the first Finance graduate Apprentice program at Virgin Atlantic and became the first non-HR person to facilitate their women's development program.

Why is it important for leaders to have a diverse inner circle?

Having a diverse inner circle is important for leaders because it helps them understand different viewpoints and experiences, which can lead to more inclusive decision-making and leadership.

What percentage of Fortune 500 CEOs were women in 2022 according to the script?

In 2022, only 3.7% of Fortune 500 CEOs were women.

What is similarity bias and how does it affect leadership teams?

Similarity bias is the tendency to be more comfortable with people who are like us. In leadership teams, this can lead to a lack of diversity and a narrower range of perspectives, as leaders may be more inclined to select and promote individuals who are similar to them.

How does reverse mentoring help develop empathy in leaders?

Reverse mentoring helps develop empathy by forcing leaders to build relationships with individuals who are different from them, which in turn allows them to understand and appreciate those differences.

What are some challenges Patrice faced as a reverse mentor?

Patrice faced the challenge of being seen primarily as a black female rather than for her professional accomplishments, which was a new experience for her.

What steps should organizations take to ensure a successful reverse mentoring program?

To ensure a successful reverse mentoring program, organizations should clarify the program's objectives, ensure leaders understand their responsibilities, avoid forced participation, and establish a process to support the well-being of participants, with a focus on psychological safety and action-oriented outcomes.

How can reverse mentoring be used to improve inclusivity in the workplace?

Reverse mentoring can be used to improve inclusivity by encouraging leaders to engage with and understand the experiences of underrepresented individuals, fostering a more connected and empathetic workplace.