Diversity and Inclusion in the Minerals Industry - Mentorship Workshop

Mentorship plays a vital role, where if done correctly all parties involved can significantly gain. In the case of the mentee, it affects their career pathway and development. It pushes the mentee to hone and learn new skills that are needed for future roles. It reduces the prevalence of mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression. On the other hand, the mentorship becomes personally rewarding for the mentor, as they see the mentee that they have invested in flourish and progress. In the case of the organisation, it allows and encourages skills transfer, knowledge management, high employee retention rates, a multi-generational and unified company culture and high company productivity.

Although benefits of mentoring are huge, there has been a growing awareness that for women in male dominated organizations, access to mentorship is not always easy and further does not necessarily lead to faster career progressions. This could be because there are few women and persons of diverse social identities in senior executive positions to provide mentoring opportunities, the available women mentors taking a more traditional supportive role rather than active advocacy role; male colleagues not being receptive of women colleagues and senior executives or written legislature to support women being poorly implemented or supported by necessary policies.

This workshop is looking to understand the challenges surrounding mentorship for women, seek solution to these challenges and to identify the roles that all stakeholders (mentor, mentee and organization) must play in order to have a rewarding outcome for all.

Contact

Camielah Jardine
Head of Conferencing • SAIMM
Tel: (011) 834-1273/7
E-mail: camielah@saimm.co.za