Reverse mentoring connects young students and/or recent graduates with higher-level business leaders to exchange ideas on knowledge, skills, and understanding. It is actually the opposite of a classical mentorship program where young mentors are leading conversations with business executives on topics like new trends, technology, and social media.
The concept of reverse mentorship emerged back in the 1990s when the former CEO of General Electric Jack Welch recognized the need for managers to learn from young employees on new technologies. Since then, it is a common practice applied within many companies.
Reverse mentoring offers an opportunity to cover skills gaps and a huge potential to create intergenerational and cultural learning. A younger student or a recent graduate can pass new skills and ideas up to a corporate ladder, and someone older can become a role model.
Within Embark Reverse Mentorship Program, refugee ‘mentors’ develop the cultural insights and soft skills to advance their careers and by sharing these stories, Embark reverses the narrative about refugees as a burden and instead highlights their undervalued potential.