Industry Leader to Industry Professionals Mentoring

Mentoring is a relationship in which the more experienced individual supports the development of a less experienced individual by being an advisor and guide. Mentoring can be done in the following three ways:

  • Mentoring: From Student
  • Mentoring: From an Industry Professional
  • Mentoring: From an Industry Leader


A senior in the industry mentors a person (mentee) who is relatively younger in experience (industry profession) on skills like leadership, team management, emotional intelligence, carving a career direction, influencing peers, communication skills and so on. These attributes may be the strength of the mentor and a development need for the mentee.

If a professional is facing challenges in professional growth, and has specific and identified developmental needs, then an experienced industry leader can add a lot of value to help the professional grow through experience sharing. This can be achieved in a trust based and sustainable relationship of a mentoring program.

At times, the wisdom and knowledge required for a professional to grow, exists outside their office. Mentoring makes it possible, so that a professional can learn from experienced industry leaders and progress on their professional path.


Difference between Mentoring and Coaching

Mentoring Coaching
Mentor focuses on the development of an individual. It is driven by development. Coach focuses on the performance of the individual.It is driven by performance.
Mentoring is a relationship in which the mentor works towards success of the mentee’s professional and personal life. Coaching is a task in which the coach focuses on developing the identified skills of the coachee.
Mentoring aims towards building informal relationship for career development. Coaching aims at building formal relationship to accomplish a particular task.
Mentoring is long-term relationship as the mentee’s overall growth and development is involved. Coaching is short-term as it has a specific agenda of honing the coachee’s skills.
Mentoring is structured which involves a strategic purpose and requires a design phase. Coaching can be done on any specific area and does not require strategic purpose or design.
Mentoring is an on-going relationship. Coaching is for a specific task and fixed duration.
Mentoring takes a broader view of the person. Coaching focuses on specific development areas.
Mentee sets the agenda with mentor’s guidance to achieve goals. Coach sets the agenda to achieve specific, immediate goals.
Mentoring aims at imbibing positive beliefs and value systems in mentee. Coaching aims at improving a particular skill or behavioural aspect of the coachee.