14 GENDER BALANCE LISTENING EVENTS | BDO
MENTORING, COACHING & SPONSORSHIP
Mentoring was an overwhelmingly consistent theme across the events. For those who’d been involved in the
We heard from many delegates who had accessed mentoring, both internally within BDO through mentoring circles, or on a one‑to-one basis and externally through the 30% Club. They shared their perspectives and insights on how valuable those relationships had been in challenging them, and getting them to think differently, and approach a situation from a different perspective. Attendees asked for greater transparency around how to access mentoring and the different options available at BDO. They also talked about setting the expectations up front to ensure success, asking for more trained mentors at BDO. get out of the relationship, but it’s transformed my thinking. - SM, Tax “ I initially wondered what I would
ACTION FOR BDO X Upgrade of our mentoring pages, actively recruit more mentors across the firm to enable more one-to-one, mentoring circles and reverse mentoring X Increased promotion of the 30% club, more transparency about the timings and process X Improved coaching provision for key career points X Review the firm’s approach to sponsorship. Encourage, and reassure in terms of readiness for the next step. FOR COLLEAGUES X Actively seek out the mentoring or coaching relationship that is right for you X Also consider who can you mentor yourself.
30% Club, it was recommended that this is particularly useful at SM grade, and we need greater transparency about how to take part. From a coaching perspective, there are certain times when it would be really beneficial, for example in preparation for promotion, or when taking an extended break (for example parental leave). Sponsorship is something we need to train our leaders in, to ensure all have access to a sponsor and therefore a ‘voice in the room’, championing us.
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