Minorities and mentoring: Managing the multicultural institution

Abstract

This study investigates the patterns in mentoring relationships among a group of black professionals. Respondents were asked to (a) identify individuals who had assisted them in their professional development, and (b) indicate persons they had helped develop professionally. Results indicated that black mentors play a significant role in helping black proteges. Other cultural groups have less involvement in these mentoring relationships with blacks as mentors or proteges. The genders of the participants in a mentoring relationship were not as important as their cultural group in predicting patterns of mentoring from the perspective of black proteges and mentors.