The Role of Mentorship For Female MBA Grads

Gender equality has joined the forefront of social commentary in recent years. For many women, especially those in business, finding the right mentor can be challenging.

Maura Herson, the assistant dean of the MBA Program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, recently wrote a Financial Times piece explaining how female MBA graduates can seek out mentors.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTORSHIP

Mentorship is extremely important for women to succeed in the business world.

Rebekah Wallis, people and corporate responsibility director at Ricoh, says mentorship has helped her develop key skills for leadership.

“The more that you mentor, the better you become. I’ve personally developed my listening, perspective, self-knowledge, compassion and courage, all wrapped up with integrity and trust – and all of which enable you to be a better leader in your own right,” Wallis tells The Telegraph.

Mentorship can also be critical for women trying to navigate a business world that’s filled with men.

“I’ve always advocated that women be aware of their personal brand, what they bring to the role, how they want to be perceived by others, and the power of building networks, which can be more important for success than skills and knowledge,” Lynne Chambers, group head of talent at the London Stock Exchange Group, tells The Telegraph.

THREE TYPES OF MENTORS

Herson outlines three types of mentors that female MBA grads should seek out.

The first type of mentor is the “coach.” According to Herson, the coach helps you “develop skills and capabilities, and prepare you for advancement by providing constructive feedback.”

The second mentor is the “sounding board.” The sounding board, says Herson, “provide[s] guidance on important choices about your career, graduate school and work-life balance.”

The last mentor is the “champion.” Herson notes that this type of mentor is the most critical out of the three.

“These are people who will advocate for you for high-profile assignments, promotions or board positions,” she writes.

While Herson says not all three are needed, each mentor plays a crucial role throughout a career.

“In the beginning, you may need someone to help you navigate the organization,” she explains. “As you advance, you may need to cultivate relationships with people in different parts of the organization and find mentors to champion your projects. And throughout, you will need a sounding board to help sort out career and life decisions.”

Mentorship, Herson argues, is critical in building a network of support. That network, Herson says, is beneficial to everyone.

“There are plenty of good men and women willing to be mentors,” she writes. “Take the time and effort to build that network. And remember that the shift starts early from being a mentee to becoming a mentor. One of the greatest things women can do to support each other is to become mentors and bring up the women behind them. The bottom line is that mentorship helps everyone.”

Sources: Financial Times, The Telegraph