21.7. Value for Other Organizations

At MWH, the Mentor Marketplace has helped employees make connections across a geographically disperse network. The mentoring relationships have extended beyond the expertise transfer that typifies many formal mentoring programs. Other companies can implement a Marketplace concept in situations where employees express a desire for help in finding a mentor, particularly in a company with a geographically dispersed employee base. Overall, the feedback from participants has been very positive. To sum up using the observation of one employee who is both a mentor and protégé, "I think the marketplace is a wonderful opportunity for people to connect and learn from each other. I look forward to seeing how these mentor–protégé relationships progress!"