Mentoring Your Way to a More Inclusive Workplace

Like many industries, the accounting profession reflects the longstanding American legacy of the “old boy network.” Most firms are still led by Caucasian men, and some have no women or people of color in leadership at all. But the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) movement is gaining steam in the accounting profession, aided by an increasing focus on mentoring.

The Case for Mentoring in Accounting Diversity

Why Diversity Programs Fail, by Harvard University’s Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev, found that mentoring had the largest impact on diversity and inclusion of more than half a dozen strategies.

Julie Kantor, founder, and CEO of Twomentor says that mentoring breaks down the walls between people and is critical for promoting DEI efforts. She explains, “Mentoring helps employees develop a sense of belonging, supports traditionally underrepresented groups, increases promotion rates, improves retention rates, and fosters understanding between cultural groups…Across the board, companies investing in formal workplace mentoring programs experience substantial returns on their investment.”

Potential Roadblock

Lean In, a nonprofit founded by Facebook’s COO Sheryl Sandberg, found last year that many men feel uncomfortable mentoring, working alone, socializing, or traveling with women co-workers because of how it might look. Yet men mentoring women is important to encourage diversity and inclusion, as without it, women are unlikely to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts in the accounting profession.

A Must-Have

Research clearly shows mentoring is not just nice to have—it is a must-have for promoting diversity and inclusion, and overall business success at your accounting firm.

Read the full article to learn more about mentoring and achieving DEI success. This is the type of content you’ll receive as a member of AAM or when you have a paid subscription. 

Members: read more starting on page 4 of Volume 9 • Issue 4

Non-Members: learn more and subscribe