337 — Promoting equity with reverse mentoring 

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