Superhero Leadership with Peter Cuneo Patrice Gordon: Reverse the Roles, Elevate the Room
Aug 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Patrice Gordon, a global authority on reverse mentoring and former airline finance leader, shares her inspiring journey from a loving Jamaican-British family to becoming a champion for inclusive leadership. She emphasizes the power of reverse mentoring in bridging generational gaps, highlighting how senior leaders can benefit from the insights of younger and underrepresented voices. The conversation also touches on the importance of psychological safety, effective communication, and the 32 essentials of transformative leadership for fostering dynamic workplace cultures.
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Reverse Mentoring Sparked Personal Recognition
- Patrice became a reverse mentor to Virgin Atlantic's CEO and felt seen for the first time as a Black woman leader.
- That experience convinced her reverse mentoring creates unique vulnerability and understanding at the top.
Vulnerability Is The Program's Power
- Reverse mentoring forces senior leaders into personal vulnerability they cannot delegate.
- This vulnerability is what unlocks truthful insight from underrepresented employees.
Assess The Culture First
- Diagnose organizational temperature before launching reverse mentoring programs.
- Use surveys and engagement data to target programs where psychological safety and truth are lacking.