Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace

Most organisations today strive for goals such as employee diversity, inclusive leadership and younger and fresher ideas. But how do we get there? In her trailblazing Reverse Mentorship program, world-renowned executive coach and personal development advocate Patrice Gordon creates a safe and engaging culture by having senior leaders learn from junior employees. While typical mentoring programs arrange for a senior manager to teach the more junior employee, Reverse Mentoring is the opposite: it's all about a leader leaning into their vulnerability, forming a relationship with an underrepresented employee, and amplifying the voice of marginalised people within the company. Reverse Mentoring offers various tips to make reverse mentorship work. Gordon explores the power of uncomfortable and awkward moments becoming key points of transformation when people have to pause, reflect and assess their past behaviours and current assumptions which are at odds with the topic at hand. She ultimately reveals how bringing more humanity into our organisations allows us to see one another and ourselves in a radically new light. 'You can't help but be excited about what the future will look like, if all businesses embrace Patrice's passion for reverse mentorship; her passion for a world in which all businesses are 100% diverse, inclusive and equitable shines through on every page' -from the Foreword by Holly Branson, Chief Purpose and Vision Officer of Virgin Group

About the Author :
Patrice Gordon is a highly qualified Executive Coach and Personal Development advocate specialising in Women's Development Programs and Reverse Mentoring. Her efforts on building an inclusive environment for all at Virgin Atlantic has been recognised internationally by Richard Branson, the TED leadership community and Brene Brown. She has a passion for helping people realise their potential which is what led her to developing a career in coaching. Originally training as a Chartered Accountant, Gordon has developed both her Financial & Commercial acumen to rise expeditiously through the ranks. She now has over 10 years experience at a senior level in the Commercial Airline & Logistics space across British Airways, Royal Mail and Virgin Atlantic. She most recently led the formation of the ground-breaking Joint Venture relationship between Virgin Atlantic, Delta & Air France KLM. She lives in London.

Review :
What stands out about Reverse Mentoring is how relentlessly practical it is. As you read it you become excited at what might be possible; when you finish it you know exactly how to turn possibility into reality Patrice Gordon reveals how a positive work culture only happens when real people - with all their flaws and attributes - change from the inside out. Reverse Mentoring shows how any business can better represent the communities, customers and employees they serve Patrice Gordon provides a human road map to challenge policies that create un-level playing fields for non-dominant groups and subtly advantage dominant groups. Reverse Mentoring is a book full of wisdom and teachings that should be an essential part of any organisation's efforts in their strategic goals of diversity, equity and inclusion Patrice's work on Reverse Mentoring is the most exciting development in this space in the past decade. She makes a powerful case that every senior leader should learn from junior colleagues-and even entry-level employees should have the opportunity to teach those above them