An Evaluation of a South African Business Chamber Mentorship Program: Perspectives From Mentors and Mentees

Abstract

Mentorship programs are found in academia, workplaces, and professional organizations. Mentoring involves the provision of guidance, knowledge, opportunities, and support by an experienced person (the mentor) for an inexperienced person (the mentee). The purpose of this study was to evaluate a mentorship program run by the Nelson Mandela Chamber of Business. The study used an online survey to collect data from mentors and mentees. Mentors were asked to rate their ability to mentor. The findings indicate that the mentees found the program more valuable than the mentors. Psychological support and career support were the main benefits.

Keywords

mentoring mentor mentee Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Commerce

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Counseling Association. (2012). ACA graduate student committee launches mentorship initiative. Counseling Today, 54, 68–69.

American Psychological Association. (APA). (2006). Introduction to mentoring: A guide for mentors and mentees. American Psychologist, 1–18. Retrieved 24th June 2025 from https://www.apa.org/education-career/grad/mentoring

Arnesson

Albinsson

(2017). Mentorship—a pedagogical method for integration of theory and practice in higher education. Nordic Journal Studies in Educational Policy, 3(3), 202–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2017.1379346

Cassling

Aarons

Terhue

(2022). Four lessons to take from athena—without disguising oneself as the mortal, mentor. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 14(2), 158–161. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-21-00572.1

Choi

A. M. K.

Moon

J. E.

Steinecke

Prescott

J. E.

(2018). Developing a culture of mentorship to strengthen academic medical centers. Academic Medicine, 94(5), 630–633. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000002498

Dahlberg

M. L.

Byars-Winsyn

(2019). The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Policy and Global Affairs; Board on Higher Education and Workforce; Committee on Effective Mentoring in STEMM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK552775/

Davey

Jackson

Henshall

(2020). The value of nurse mentoring relationships: Lessons learnt from a work-based resilience enhancement programme for nurses working in the forensic setting. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(5), 992–1001. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12739

Davis

A. L.

McQuillin

S. D.

(2022). Supporting autonomy in youth mentoring relationships. Journal of Community Psychology, 50(1), 329–347. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22567

Dominquez

Hager

(2013). Mentoring frameworks: Synthesis and critique. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 2(3), 171–188. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-03-2013-0014

10.

Erdem

Aytemur

J. O.

(2008). Mentoring- a relationship built on trust: Qualitative research. Public Personnel Management, 37(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1177/009102600803700104

11.

Eriksson

(2022). Growing through giving: The role of paying it forward in business-to-business marketing. Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing, 29(2), 131–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/1051712X.2022.2058543

12.

Farkas

A. H.

Allenbaugh

Bonifacino

Turner

Corbelli

J. A.

(2019). Mentorship of US medical students: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(11), 2602–2609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05256-4

13.

Felten

Forsyth

Sutherland

K. A.

(2023). Building trust in the classroom: A conceptual model for teachers, scholars, and academic developers in higher education. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 11(2023), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.11.20

14.

Gamper

(2022). Social network theories: An overview. In Klärner

Gamper

Keim-Klärner

Moor

von der Lippe

Vonneilich

(Eds.), Social networks and health inequalities (pp. 35–48). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97722-1_3

15.

Gandhi

Johnson

(2016). Creating more effective mentors: Mentoring the mentor. Aids Behaviour, 20(2), 294–303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1364-3

16.

Garvey

(2017). Philosophical origins of mentoring: The critical narrative analysis. In Clutterbuck

McClelland

Kochan

Lunsford

Smith

(Eds.), The SAGE handbook of mentoring (pp. 15–33). Sage.

17.

Geesa

R. L.

McConnell

K. R.

Brown

R. D.

(2022). Mentorship for doctor of education candidates: Exploring sustainability, networking, and expected outcomes within a mentoring program. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 17(3), 291–309. https://https://doi.org/10-1177/1942775121101353

18.

Goodsett

(2021). Commitment, respect, and trust: The building blocks of a strong mentoring relationship. Academic library mentoring: Fostering growth and renewal (ed. Rod-Welch & Weeg). ACRL Publications.

19.

Goshen

Yirmiya

Kol

(2022). Mentoring: A three-generation perspective. Neuron, 110(3), 363–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.009

20.

Gravetter

F. J.

Wallnau

L. B.

(2009). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (8th ed.). Wadsworth.

21.

Haberer

J. E.

Byakika-Kibwika

Gandhi

Bukusi

E. A.

Kamya

Boum Ii

(2025). Mentorship-A critical metric for career development and advancing global health. PLOS Global Public Health, 5(10), e0005247. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0005247

22.

Hall

(2025). Why building the right network will always be your greatest asset. Forbes. Retrieved 28 June 2025 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2025/09/28/why-building-the-right-network-will-always-be-your-greatest-asset/

23.

Hansen

Sheffield

S. L. M.

Santucci

van der Rijst

(2025). Transcending hierarchies: Mentorship as reciprocal growth. International Journal for Academic Development, 30(2), 137–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2025.2495377

24.

Hansford

Ehrich

L. C.

(2006). The principalship: How significant is mentoring? Journal of Educational Administration, 44(1), 36–52. Retrieved 27 June 2025 from https://scispace.com/pdf/the-principalship-how-significant-is-mentoring-4odxx8gicq.pdf https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230610642647

25.

Hill

S. E. M.

Ward

W. L.

Seay

Buzensli

(2022). The nature and evolution of the mentoring relationship in academic health centers. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 29(2022), 557–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-022-09893-6

26.

IESE Business School. (2022). The five secrets of the best mentoring programs. Forbes. Retrieved 24 May 2025 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2022/09/26/the-five-secrets-of-the-best-mentoring-programs/

27.

Kegan

(1982). The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Harvard Publishing.

28.

Kiadarbandsari

(2023). Mentors’ supporting approaches of mentees’ cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Journal of Adolescent Research, 40(3), 738–773. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584231 163568

29.

Koukounaras-Liagkis

Karavas

Papaioannou

(2024). Using the “most significant change” technique to evaluate the teaching competence and psycho-emotional development of prospective teachers during the teaching practicum. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 13(3), 295–312. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-04-2023-0037

30.

Latukha

Pitubaeva

Khasieva

Kriklivetc

Yan

(2025). External mentoring as a talent attraction tool in the talent shortage context. BRICS Journal of Economics, 6(1), 163–183. https://doi.org/10.3897/brics-econ.6.e142016

31.

Levinson

(1978), The seasons of a man’s life. Random House.

32.

Lyons-Warren

A. M.

Aamodt

W. W.

Pieper

K. M.

Strowd

R. E.

(2024). A structured, journal-led peer-review mentoring program enhances peer review training. Research Integrity and Peer Review, 9(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-024-00143-x

33.

Mask

(2023). Mentoring up, down, and sideways: Reciprocity and care in the museum education field. Journal of Museum Education, 48(4), 391–400. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2023.2286393

34.

Maxwell

Kaplar-Kodacsy

Hobson

A. J.

Hotham

(2024). Effective mentor training, education and development: A qualitative multilevel meta-synthesis. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 13(4), 422–440. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-07-2023-0068

35.

Maynard-Patrick

Baugh

S. G.

(2019). The role of felt obligation to mentor in mentor performance. An exploration of generalized reciprocity in mentoring. Career Development International, 24(7), 619–635. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-11-2018-0286

36.

NMB. (2025). Chamber to launch SMME-focused mentorship programme as value-add to members. Retrieved 16^th June 2025 from https://www.nmbbusinesschamber.co.za/chambertolaunchsmmefocusedmentorshipprogramme

37.

Nuis

Segers

Beausaert

(2023). Measuring mentoring in employability-oriented higher education programs: Scale development and validation. Higher Education, 87(2024), 899–921. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01042-8

38.

Ongek

(2016). Mentoring as a process of developing effective school leaders in the 21st century. International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies, 2(6), 331–337. https://www.ijhsss.com/files/35_zbov153e.-Ongek-Margaret.pdf

39.

Oyesanya

T. O.

Faietab

Silveirac

S. L.

Cogan

A. M.

Pappadise

M. R.

Ahonlef

Z. J.

Backus

Kolakowsky-Haynerh

Roberts

(2025). Development and satisfaction of a mentoring-match algorithm. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 33(4), 485–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2025.2519908

40.

Pfund

Byars-Winston

Branchaw

Hurtado

Eagan

(2016). Defining attributes and metrics of effective research mentoring relationships. AIDS and Behaviour, 20(2), 238–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-016-1384-z

41.

Pryce

Dean

(2025). The mentor attunement scale: A tool to measure a critical mentoring skill-set. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 33(1), 95–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2024.2420122

42.

Reeves

(2023). What is mentoring? Meaning, benefits, and types. Together. Retrieved 24 August 2025 from https://www.togetherplatform.com/blog/what-is-mentoring-meaning-benefits-and-types

43.

Rinfret

S. R.

Young

S. L.

McDonald

I. I. I.

(2023). The importance of mentorship in higher education: An introduction to the symposium. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 29(4), 398–403. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2023.2260947

44.

Rubbi Nunan

J. L.

Ebrahim

A. B.

Stander

M. W.

(2023). Mentoring in the workplace: Exploring the experiences of mentor–mentee relations. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 49(0), a2067. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v49i0.2067

45.

Shuler

Cazares

Marshall

Garza-Lopez

Hultman

Francis

T. K.

Rolle

Byndloss

M. X.

Starbird

C. A.

Hicsasmaz

AshShareef

Neikerk

Johmson

P. E. C.

Vue

Beasley

H. K.

Williams

Hinton

(2021). Intentional mentoring: Maximising the impact of underrepresented future scientists in the 21st century. Pathogens and Disease, 79(6), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/ftab038

46.

Sotello Viernes Turner

González

J. C.

(2023). Modeling mentoring across race/ethnicity and gender. Practices to cultivate the next generation of diverse faculty. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003446057

47.

Spencer

(2025). Providing emotional support and empathy. Becoming a better mentor: Strategies to be there for young people. Retrieved 18 October 2025 from htpps://www.mentoring.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BBM-Chapter-1.pdf

48.

Steinmann

(2017). Guiding and leading crucial mentoring conversations. Knowledge Resources Publishing.

49.

Stout

(2020). Empathy, vulnerability and anxiety. In: The value of empathy (1st ed., pp. 347–357). Routledge.

50.

Suldo

S. M.

Mariano

J. M.

Gilfix

(2021). Promoting students’ positive emotions, character, and purpose. In Lazarus

P. J.

Suldo

S. M.

Doll

(Eds.), Fostering the emotional well-being of our youth: A school-based approach (pp. 282–312). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190918873.003.0015

51.

Syracuse University. (2020). Social network theory. Retrieved 26 May 2025 from https://suadvance.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Section-6-Faculty-Mentoring-in-a-Networked-World.pdf

52.

Templeton

N. R.

Abdelrahman

Kannan

Muhayimana

Donop

Hall

Phillips

(2025). Editorial overview: Mentoring for professional improvement. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 33(3), 265–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2025.2496563

53.

Thornton

Beutel

(2024). Guest editorial: Mentoring and coaching preparation and training in professional contexts. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 13(4), 417–421. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-12-2024-118

54.

Thurman

S. L.

Bellot

Grant

(2024). Building trust in mentoring relationships. Retrieved 8 August 2025 from https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/building-trust-in-mentoring-relationships/

55.

Treasure

A. M.

Hall

S. M.

Lesko

Moore

Sharan

van Zaanen

Yehudi

van der Walt

(2022). Ten simple rules for establishing a mentorship programme. PLoS Computational Biology, 18(5), e1010015. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010015

56.

University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2025). Retrieved 6 September 2025 from https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ah3sUnFOUNJouDX?Q_JFE=qdg

57.

Van Dam

Smit

Wildschut

Branje

S. J. T.

Rhodes

J. E.

Assink

Stams

G. J. J. M.

(2018). Does natural mentoring matter? A multilevel meta-analysis on the association between natural mentoring and youth outcomes. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62, 203–220. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12248

58.

Van Rooyen

Zaranyika

Mdlalose

Azunui

Langer

(2021). Mentoring as a tool to enhance capacities for evidence use in Africa, SEDI Learning Brief 6. Strengthening evidence use for development impact, Oxford. Retrieved 18 June 2025 from https://www.opml.co.uk/sites/default/files/migrated_bolt_files/sedi-learning-brief-6-mentoring-v2.pdf

59.

Venktaramana

Ting Ong

Yeo

J. W.

Pisupati

Krishna

L. K. R.

(2023). Understanding mentoring relationships between mentees, peer and senior mentors. BMC Medical Education, 23(76), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04021-w

60.

Waite

(2023). Building a supportive network: The value of mentoring and coaching, Retrieved from https://www.robinwaite.com/blog/building-a-supportive-network-the-value-of-mentorship-and-coaching

61.

Ward

Love

Williams

(2020). Mentoring. A chapter in the Association of Academic Medical Center’s Group on Faculty Affairs’ Leadership Guide for Faculty Affairs Professionals. Retrieved 9 August 2025 from https://www.aamc.org/professional-development/afnity-groups/gfa/mentoring

62.

Wenger-Trayner

Wenger- Trayner

(2015). Introduction to communities of practice a brief overview of the concept and its uses. Retrieved 8 August 2025 from https://www.wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice/

63.

Liu

Yang

Cui

Yang

(2021). How does mentoring affect the creative performance of mentors: The role of personal learning and career stage. Frontiers of Psychology, 12, 741139. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741139