Women’s ways of mentoring: Peer group mentorship as a meaningful developmental experience

Abstract

ABSTRACT Peer group mentoring can serve as a meaningful developmental experience and outlet for women. Historically, as well as in contemporary contexts, women have been excluded from traditional mentoring relationships and developmental opportunities. In this paper, the authors utilize the lived experiences and voices of one dozen executive-level professional women to highlight how peer group mentoring can serve as a valuable developmental experience. This study illuminates that these peer group mentoring experiences were a catalyst for development due to (a) mutual engagement by the mentoring collaborators; (b) shared dialogue and learning; and (c) support for one another within and beyond the Circle gatherings.