The opportunities we have access to in life are shaped by our background, our environment and our networks. It is difficult to create equitable organizations if a single homogenous group are making most of the decisions. 

In Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace, coach and author Patrice Gordon describes how connecting senior decision-makers with more junior mentors can help them understand one another. 

This week on The Mind Tools L&D Podcast, Patrice joins Ross G and Nahdia to discuss: 

• what ‘reverse mentoring’ is  

• the benefits of reverse mentoring for both parties 

• the pitfalls of a reverse mentoring relationship – and how to avoid them.  

You can buy the book at: littlebrown.co.uk/titles/patrice-gordon/reverse-mentoring/9780349435008/ 

During the discussion, Ross also referenced The Business of Race. See episode ‘298 — How can L&D promote an anti-racist workplace?’ at: podcast.goodpractice.com/298-how-can-ld-promote-an-anti-racist-workplace 

In What I Learned This Week, Nahdia discussed the TV show Abbot Elementary, streaming now on Disney+ (and not in fact on Apple TV, though we give a virtual high five to the fine folks at both streaming giants). 

Patrice discussed I, Human and the work of Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. 

And Ross G shared more nonsense from his interactions with ChatGPT. 

For more from Patrice, see Eminere.co.uk, or follow her on Instagram @MsPatriceGordon. 

For more from us, including access to our back catalogue of podcasts, visit mindtoolsbusiness.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.   

Mind Tools also covered reverse mentoring at: mindtools.com/aznnj4n/reverse-mentoring 

For our blog on ‘equality’ and ‘equity’, see: mindtools.com/blog/what-is-gender-equity/  

Connect with our speakers    

If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: 

• Nahdia Khan - @NahdiaKhan 

• Ross Garner - @RossGarnerMT 

• Patrice Gordon - @MsPatriceGordon