EMpower Mentoring Scheme

Formerly known as the BAME Mentoring Scheme, EMpower was launched in 2021 to support growth opportunities and career experience of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic staff at LSE. The scheme has been a collaborative effort between HR Organisational learning, EDI, and the EmbRace staff network to provide a school-wide opportunity for ethnic minority staff to receive professional support from experts, be upskilled, and form a collective network of shared confidence and support.

The scheme offered two distinct types of Mentoring- 1:1 Mentoring and Mentoring Circles.

1:1 Mentoring involved gaining professional insight and recognising strengths and talents with the help of one-to-one consultation from a mentor.

Mentoring Circles focus on a group of staff members having regular interactions and conversations discussing their experiences, individual growth needs and shared values, all while being facilitated by a mentor.

Both mentoring pathways were focused on identifying changing needs, values, aspirations; and what's most important to mentees in relation to being a BAME member of staff.

The EMpower Mentoring scheme shall be relaunching this Autumn term, 2025!

The EMpower Mentoring Scheme includes two ways of mentoring:

Mentoring Circles 

A mentoring circle involves a group of people learning, challenging and supporting each other whilst being led by a senior member of staff or a lead mentor.

Mentees will remain with the same circle which will be led by  the same two mentors (where possible), throughout the scheme. This will support building a relationship and trust within the group so members feel comfortable to share experiences and issues. This will also allow members to support each other throughout the duration of the scheme. 

1-1 Mentoring 

Mentoring can provide individuals with role models and may be a means of providing information about career and training opportunities (internal and external).

It can widen support networks, provide motivation and can improve confidence. With developmental mentoring, a mentor will help you to develop your strengths and potential; and identify your changing needs, values, aspirations; and what's most important to you in relation to being a BAME member of staff. 

The scheme will include:

• Training for mentors on both 1-1 mentoring and facilitating mentoring circles (if applicable).
• An official launch event for a chance to network and meet other mentees and mentors on the scheme.
• A meeting between mentee(s) and mentor every 4-6 weeks for an hour.
• A celebratory, reflective social event towards the end of the mentoring relationship.

As a Mentor, you will:

• Reflect on your own leadership skills development and career progression.

• Support the School's Shaping the World Strategy, Racial Equity Framework, Athena SWAN action plan and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

• Become a better leader and shape the leaders of tomorrow.

• Gain insight into wider organisational practices.

• Network with other like-minded colleagues and attend developmental workshops.

• Renew focus on your own career development.

As a Mentee, you will:

• Change/achieve your goals more quickly and effectively than working alone.

• Engage with a network of expertise to draw on, benefiting both yourself and others.

• Build self-confidence, and with a focus on your own personal experiences and reduce any feelings of anxiety tackling issues within the workplace.

• If in the mentoring circles, hear from your colleagues regarding their experience, with fresh perspective and insight into LSE.

As a Mentor, you will:

• Act as an impartial sounding board for your Mentee,

• Create valuable space and time for your Mentee to reflect and review where they are now; where they want to get to, and how best to get there.

• Give back to the LSE Community by communicating your viewpoints, expertise, and information from their own knowledge, experience and expertise.

• Provide a confidential forum in which you and your Mentee can discuss any sensitive issues and devise solutions to developmental concerns.

As a Mentee you will:

• Come to your mentoring sessions with an open mind, willing to learn, listen and be inspired by your Mentor.
• Take ownership of setting up the Mentoring meetings, and mentoring agendas.
• Set goals and objectives and communicate your concerns and issues effectively to your Mentor.

Mentees should identify as being from an ethnic minority background.

Mentors should be a identify as being from an ethnic minority background and be a Band 5 or above.

Please take a few moments to sign up as a Mentor or a Mentee using the EMpower Mentoring Scheme form https://forms.office.com/e/riWpq61wgP.

For any other queries about the EMpower Mentoring Scheme, speak to Organisational Learning and Development at hr.learning@lse.ac.uk via email.