During 2020 we ran a successful inaugural BME reverse mentoring programme with a focus on race and ethnicity facilitated by Afua Hirsch. Senior members of the firm were paired with reverse mentors from ethnic minority backgrounds, who shared their experiences and helped our senior leaders gain new insights.
MentorMacs
Following on from the successes of this initiative, we expanded this programme which is now known as MentorMacs. Our mentors all come from under-represented groups and share their lived experiences with their mentees throughout the programme. The mentees are senior leaders at the firm e.g. a partner, director, head of department or senior manager.
MentorMacs provides a supportive space for both mentors and mentees as they explore and discuss different perspectives on important topics.
Many of our mentors offer perspectives aligned to our staff networks, we also often have mentors who’s lived experiences are intersectional.
- Balance - mentors who are managing work and home lives (particularly when that involves caring responsibilities)
- DAWN - mentors who have direct experience of disabilities, neurodiverse conditions or other long or short term conditions, or mentors who directly support others who are experiencing these
- Pride - mentors who identify as LGBTQ+
- REACH - mentors from ethnic minority backgrounds
The programme has really opened my eyes in relation to the potential impact an invisible illness can have, both on a person's wellbeing and on their ability to succeed in a demanding profession. My key takeaway is that we can and should be willing to make small structural and cultural changes to accommodate and support those suffering from invisible illnesses, without "othering" them.