Listed below are comments from mentees describing the value this program has provided.

“I learned how to delegate and prioritize - ‘keep the main thing, the main thing' was my mentor's motto. I also identified both short and long term goals with my mentor, which was an amazing and eye-opening experience.” 

“I have been able to add a more strategic viewpoint to my everyday work instead of being bogged down in just the day-to-day details. Also, my management skills have improved, particularly around methods of coaching others and managing conflict.”

“I now take more control of my career path, rather than relying on my company to tell me where I need to go. I reach out to higher levels in my organization to develop relationships and gain better insights into our corporate goals and culture.”

Company Background

General Mills, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, markets some of the most trusted and respected food brands in over 100 counties on six continents.  Examples include cereals such as Cheerios and Wheaties, Betty Crocker baking products, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream.  General Mills is well recognized for its progressive human resource development practices which impact over 27,000 employees worldwide.

Business Case

A key strategic business objective for General Mills is to invest in the development of company brands, people, and culture to assure the sustainability of future organizational performance.  General Mills selected the Menttium 100 mentoring program as one strategy to achieve this objective.  Expected outcomes for mentees in support of this business objective include:

• Enhanced skills at generating creative and innovative solutions through access to the diverse perspective of an outside resource
• Greater confidence in building relationships with people outside and across General Mills
• Increased overall breadth of knowledge

Mentoring Strategy

General Mills selects over 20 top talent female employees each year to participate as mentees in the Menttium 100 cross-company mentoring experience.  Mentees participate in the face-to-face Minneapolis-based program as well as in Menttium's virtual, global mentoring program.  In addition, several General Mills senior executives serve as Menttium 100 mentors.

Impact

When asked about their overall Menttium 100 experience, 90-100% of General Mills mentees reported:

• They applied new or enhanced skills within 4-6 months of starting the program
• The experience supported their personal and professional development
• They achieved two-thirds or greater of their established goals

Competency development was a key aspect of the program.  When asked about their growth and development, a significant percentage of General Mills mentees indicated their Menttium 100 experience provided them with an opportunity to develop or enhance their abilities in the following areas:

Key Outcomes	Percentage Reporting Improvement
Think strategically	94%
Lead and manage others	88%
Meet challenges in my current work environment	88%
Communicate ideas	81%
Manage upward	81%

The program also supported employee satisfaction with 75% of General Mills mentees indicating that the knowledge, skill and support they received through the Menttium 100 Program positively contributed to their satisfaction in their current role within the organization.

General Mills provides multiple mentoring partnership opportunities for employees.  Some initiatives are cross-functional within the organization, while others are external, cross-company partnerships.