Entrepreneurial cross-mentoring: experiences from German/Austrian projects

Demographic change and globalization made the 'war for talents' a strategic issue in Germany and highlights the fact that women have been an underestimated potential as leaders. Concurrently the idea of supporting entrepreneurial climate gained momentum and also drew attention on women. In this context mentoring is seen as means not only to qualify female managers but also to overcome gender related disadvantages in entrepreneurial settings. We present two German/Austrian cross-mentoring projects, focusing on female mentorees in which the specific effects of cross-mentoring for both, mentors and mentorees become visible. Characteristics of entrepreneurial mentoring as a specific form of cross-mentoring are lined out and the specific potential of cross-mentoring is analyzed. Based on this we suggest 'Entrepreneurial Cross Mentoring' as a fresh approach.