JOURNAL OF BUSINESS DIVERSITY

Initial Mentor Attraction: Interactions of Individual and Mentor

Demographic Characteristics

Author(s): Shannon A. Hunter Scielzo, Jubilee J. Dickson, Steven Diamond, Jared B. Kenworthy

Citation: Shannon A. Hunter Scielzo, Jubilee J. Dickson, Steven Diamond, Jared B. Kenworthy, (2012) "Initial Mentor Attraction: Interactions of Individual and Mentor Demographic Characteristics," Journal of Business Diversity, Vol.12, Iss. 3, pp.11 - 21

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

Mentoring relationships are frequently used as tools to increase employee productivity. However, little is understood in how to best pair mentors and protégés in formal mentoring programs. This study examined the extent to which individual demographic and dispositional variables interact with various mentor characteristics to predict ratings of the profiles of those mentors. The results of this study are consistent with the notion that gender, race, and similarity of mentors and protégés may be an important consideration when the protégé believes that psychosocial support functions are valuable. This article aims to provide some guidance in regards to overseeing mentoring relationships.