Why not a women-to-women mentoring dyad? A grounded theory approach to address inquisitiveness

Purpose This study explores the under-researched gender gap in mentoring within the hospitality industry, focusing specifically on female mentees’ experiences and challenges in forming female-to-female mentoring relationships. Design/methodology/approach A constructivist grounded theory approach was adopted, utilizing data from 75 semi-structured interviews with female mentees in the hospitality sector. This method allowed for a systematic investigation of the factors influencing female mentoring dynamics. Findings The research identified key challenges and obstacles faced by female mentees when selecting mentors. These findings offer actionable insights to help industry leaders address gender inequality and foster stronger female-to-female mentoring relationships. Practical implications The study provides practical recommendations for hospitality industry leaders to mitigate gender inequality and enhance female mentoring opportunities, thereby promoting more inclusive professional development practices. Social implications The study highlights the need for societal and cultural shifts to overcome the barriers faced by female mentees in same-gender mentoring relationships, more so in the context of the Indian hospitality industry. By fostering inclusive mentorship practices, the hospitality industry can contribute to broader social change, promoting gender equality and supporting women’s professional empowerment. Originality/value While mentoring practices in the hospitality industry have been widely studied, few studies have explicitly looked at women mentors. Additionally, this research uniquely emphasizes the mentee’s perspective in addressing gender gaps within female mentoring relationships.