A new report by Mentor Walks, a mentorship program catering to professional women, has shown the significant impact women-to-women mentoring can have on female employment, including the issues of unemployment and underemployment.
The research surveyed 392 mentors and mentees and found that 50 per cent reported positive employment outcomes with 35 jobs being created as a result of such a program. In addition, 89 per cent of respondents felt more optimistic about the future as a result of such mentorship and 83 per cent said that it improved their confidence and self-esteem.
“This has been a challenging year for everyone, especially women,” Co-founder of Mentor Walks, Bobbi Mahlab, said. “Between managing working from home, juggling parental responsibilities and the mental health strain of being disconnected from work and social networks, giving women a forum to continue to build their careers has never been more important.
“We’ve always known that giving women the opportunity to be mentored can have so many benefits, but this research really shows the tangible and lasting benefits mentoring can have,” Mahlab added.
The research noted that a large proportion of those surveyed said they experienced social disconnection due to COVID-19. A third said it negatively affected their ability to build networks, and a quarter reported that their mental health and wellbeing were negatively affected. As such a mentorship program offered an invaluable resource in their continuing development in the midst of the current environment.
The research also revealed that nearly 50 per cent of those who participated in a women-to-women mentoring report positive employment-related outcomes such as having secured a new job or a promotion, while per cent are considering starting their own business.
