TY  - JOUR
AB  - Research indicates that although women have achieved virtual parity with men when entering organizations, within five to six years their careers begin to lag behind those of their male counterparts. This lag is often attributed to the glass ceiling and mentoring has been suggested as one tool to assist women in breaking through. We still have very little empirical research that informs our understanding of the effectiveness of formal mentoring in comparison to informal mentoring relationships. The purpose of this article is to take a hard look at formal mentoring programs and the implications for women participating in them. It compares formal mentoring to informal mentoring. It focuses on the practice of formal mentoring relationships and the unique challenges that women may face as they negotiate these planned relationships as well as some suggested strategies to deal with these challenges. It concludes by discussing the implications of this work as well as alternative sources of support for women.
VL  - 20
IS  - 4
SN  - 0262-1711
DO  - 10.1108/02621710110388983
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710110388983
AU  - Blake‐Beard Stacy D.
PY  - 2001
Y1  - 2001/01/01
TI  - Taking a hard look at formal mentoring programs: A consideration of potential challenges facing women
T2  - Journal of Management Development
PB  - MCB UP Ltd
SP  - 331
EP  - 345
Y2  - 2024/04/23
ER  -