Even though our society has become more diverse, the same trend has not happened as quickly in the business industry. One reason for this is that individuals from today's underrepresented groups are often first-generation college graduates who do not have a mentor or role model to look up to and follow.
For this discussion forum, consider how you would implement a mentoring program within your company (your company can either be real or hypothetical). Why would this mentoring program be important, and how would you measure the success of such an initiative? In addition, discuss how a mentoring program might improve the retention of underrepresented groups.
Sample Answer
This is a critically important topic. The lack of mentorship for first-generation college graduates from underrepresented groups is a significant barrier to their career advancement and, consequently, to achieving true diversity in the business world. A well-designed mentoring program can be a powerful tool to bridge this gap.
Implementing a Mentoring Program
At my hypothetical company, Innovate Solutions Inc., I would implement a formal, structured mentoring program called "Innovate Forward." The program would be a one-year commitment and would be open to all new hires and junior employees from underrepresented groups, with a special focus on those who are first-generation college graduates.