Qualitative Study: Positive and Negative Mentoring Practices in the Corporate Workplace and the Impact the Practices have on the Black Male

Date of Award

Summer 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Committee Chair

Leo Sedlmeyer

Committee Member

Jennifer Harris

Committee Member

Lori Salgado

Abstract

This research explored Black male mentees’ experiences related to workplace advancement. Of all fortune 500 company CEOs only eight are Black. The research showed that workplace advancement does not keep pace with the Black male population numbers. Related to White males, there is a disparity in officer-level attainment of the Black male in the corporate workplace. There is a gap in the research on Black male mentees and their workplace advancement. This research explores mentoring and Black male advancement opportunities in the corporate workplace. The goal of the research is to develop more practical mentoring experiences for Black males in the workplace. Using critical race theory and appreciative inquiry to frame the research was critical. Being aware of the probable systemic racial impact and incorporating the positive development approaches of appreciative inquiry benefited the study. This qualitative research is exploratory. Exploring the impact of mentoring on the journey of 15 Black males and how they conceptualized the impact of mentoring on their climb of the corporate ladder. Information from the interviews was analyzed and coded by themes multiple times to present a non-biased review of the participants’ perspectives. Two of the interviewees, now retired, made it to the top of their industry. Results indicate a lack of success in Black males moving from the mentee role to the officer level in the corporate workplace. Implications for the practice include developing positive cultural awareness and unbiased mentoring programs in the workplace.

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