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GenderWorkplace cultureLatest NewsCoaching and mentoringEquality, diversity and inclusion

Mentoring key to building diverse leadership

by Rob Moss 16 Oct 2019
by Rob Moss 16 Oct 2019 “Mentoring is an essential part of growing any business from within” – Karen Blackett, chair of MediaCom
“Mentoring is an essential part of growing any business from within” – Karen Blackett, chair of MediaCom

Businesses where women occupy more than 30% senior leadership roles are more likely to nurture ambition, with a quarter (27%) of senior leaders actively mentoring others and 17% looking to “sponsor” more junior employees, according to research.

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Mentoring gap opens up between demand and provision

The proportion of staff who were mentors to others in companies that are under the target to have 30% of board positions filled by women was just 14%.

The research, conducted by YouGov for Vodafone, questioned 2,000 senior decision makers from FTSE 350 companies about the behaviours and workplace cultures that improved gender diversity in senior teams.

Karen Blackett, chair of MediaCom UK, said: “Mentoring is an essential part of growing any business from within and fostering a culture of progression and ambition. The adage ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it’ is especially true for women.

“Vodafone’s research shows 38% of female employees who have exposure to senior mentors in companies over the target believe they will make it to the board themselves. This is in stark contrast to the 21% of women working in companies under target who aren’t motivated to reach board level.”

Earlier this month the 30% Club announced that the FTSE 350 had achieved the target to have 30% of board positions filled by women ahead of the 2020 deadline.

Businesses looking to meet the Hampton-Alexander Review target of 33% of females in senior leadership roles by 2020 should invest in mentorship schemes, encourage role models, have visible executives who spend time with staff, and demonstrate a positive approach to flexible working according to Vodafone’s report, Driving Gender Diversity at the Top: 2019 & Beyond.

Employees working at companies that have met the target were shown to benefit from higher interaction with executives, with 66% saying they see senior leaders always or often. At companies that are below target, 22% said they see members of the board rarely or never, compared to 13% at businesses above target.

The research also found that companies that embrace flexible working had more diverse boards. Half (49%) of employees working at companies with more than 30% women in senior roles said that flexible working feels normal because the senior team are advocates themselves. This proportion dropped to less than a third (30%) at businesses under the target.

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Rob Moss
Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

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RH 17 Oct 2019 - 5:18 pm

The target percentage seems low.

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