Ex Factor: Is Leveraging Mentoring & Sponsorship to Fast Track Diverse Leadership Pipelines Underestimated in Employee Experience (EX)?

Abstract

Abstract Ever heard of the term, "glass ceiling"? It refers to barriers women and minorities face in the workplace. Corporations around the world have tried to find solutions, to diminish advancement barriers, yet for many women, people with disabilities and young employees it seems the glass ceiling has hardened to concrete. Research shows that having a diverse workforce and leaders increases revenue and innovation. Therefore businesses must leverage an employee centric mindset to understand from their employees how to create positive employee experiences and an inclusive work environment to remain competitive in the marketplace. This paradigm shift in organisations’ people management practices, benefits the whole business ecosystem. By focusing on the whole person, you are then able to create a powerful employee experience. "Employee Experience is about creating a great work environment for people. It involves understanding the role that trust plays in the employment relationship and making sure people are listened to and have a voice in issues that impact" (CIPD, 2020). Employees are becoming "the consumers of the workplace," (Balasubramanian M, 2022) which means to unlock business performance, organisations must study the uniqueness of being human, and purposefully design work experiences from the viewpoint of employees to create a truly engaged workforce. It is well documented that minorities experience a more difficult time building support networks inside their firm, have fewer mentors, and are neglected by high-status groups, which impact their chances of moving up the leadership ladder (Ely & Thomas 2020). This article addresses diversity from the perspective of how mentoring and sponsorship facilitates psychological safety, and can be tailored to promoting more minorities in leadership positions, and at the same time enhancing the employee experience. Opening the line of communication between talented minorities and power holders through strategic partnerships is imperative for companies to thrive in the future.