Mentoring: Who And How

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of mentoring, defined here as a process where one individual, the mentor, passes on knowledge, experience and advice to another individual, the mentee, in trust and confidence. This process is initiated by a corporation whose purpose it is to recruit, retain and grow talented people in their organization. A survey of the history of the process is reviewed. The benefits and issues of acquiring a mentor and advancing are also covered. Four interviews are reported, the authors feel that this overview of mentoring has many applications and need not be confined to the business community.