The way managers have embraced the program, though, has been the most profound evidence of peer mentoring's success, McCloskey says. There was some initial hostility from people with years of experience who were now going to be mentored by newbies.
That skepticism quickly dissolved though, McCloskey says, and now Microsoft is facing a new challenge with the program. "We've crossed a threshold in the last six months," he says. "We have more mentee requests than mentors at this point."
Accounting giant KPMG says that mentoring is "ingrained in our values," says Kathy Hannan, managing partner for corporate responsibility and diversity. Everyone at the firm has a mentor, she says, offering a way to strengthen employees' skills as well as their connection to others at the company.
Two years ago, looking to expand opportunities for a diverse group of leaders, KPMG started its Leaders Engaging Leaders program, which pairs 60 top managers with members of the management committee, the board of directors, and national managing partners.
"It gives the most senior leaders in the firm an opportunity to engage with a cross section of leaders that they normally wouldn't see in their day jobs," Hannan says.
The program aims to show mentees that just because there are only a few rungs of the corporate ladder left, it doesn't mean they are stuck in the jobs they are doing now.
In addition, the mentor-mentee relationship should evolve into a form of sponsorship, Hannan says. As bonds form, the connection should evolve from that of a coach, who tells you what to do, to that of a mentor, who offers advice, to that of a sponsor, who advocates for you.
Several people in Leaders Engaging Leaders have taken on more significant leadership roles, including one who has joined the board of directors. KPMG is currently looking to expand the program.
"The goal is ultimately to drive it down deeper into the organization," Hannan says. "It really helps with retention … and gives folks a line of sight to a number of opportunities across the firm."