SSHRC Grant Awarded for Research on the Challenges and Best Practices Involved in Mentoring a Diverse Workforce

Dr. Joanne Leck and Dr. Catherine Elliott were awarded a $24,552 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to report on the challenges and the emerging best practices involved in mentoring a diverse workforce.

Mentoring is a proven organizational strategy to develop leadership skills, yet members of designated groups including immigrants, women, visible minorities, aboriginal persons, and disabled persons face challenges in the mentoring process that limit their ability to acquire these skills. These groups remain underrepresented in upper management and in positions of power at a time when competition for knowledge workers and the shortage of leadership talent is putting pressure on Canadian organizations to invest in the training and professional development of their staff.

The research supports the goal of improving mentoring effectiveness, which will permit underrepresented groups to participate more fully in the Canada workplace, especially in leadership roles.