When it comes to learning, mentorship is not a one-way street. Raoul points out that by building relationships with people they may otherwise not encounter, mentors enrich their leadership, listening and empathy skills, while gaining a better understanding of the challenges faced by others. 

When it comes to creating the right foundations for mentoring to thrive, Raoul says leaders are crucial to success.

“By showing commitment to mentorship, leaders encourage others to participate,” she says. “They’re instrumental in shaping a culture where mentorship is not only valued but ingrained in a company's DNA.”

This can extend to designing accessible workplace environments that encourage open communication.

“Collaborative spaces that favor spontaneous interaction help to break down hierarchical barriers and make employees feel more confident when approaching others for advice,” says Raoul.

However, it’s not always that straightforward.

“It’s hard to tell who’s best for your specific challenge and it can be intimidating to approach someone you don’t know,” says Girault.

He believes this is where user friendly digital platforms for mentor-mentee pairings come into their own, allowing willing volunteers to list their expertise and experience.

“The most successful mentoring relationships in my experience are based on mutual choice,” he says. “Simple digital tools help those seeking mentorship to find a match and feel comfortable requesting help.”

Whether people have one mentor, or several, Raoul says people should approach the process with an open mind and not be too prescriptive.

“Mentoring can take many forms. In an ideal world, we’d have such a culture of inclusion that it would happen naturally without formal programs,” she says. “But for practical purposes some kind of mentoring framework can really help kick start the process and hugely benefit all involved.”