by Bernadette Howlett, PhD

As humorously embodied in this commercial, the most impactful leadership employs a mentoring paradigm that transforms mentors and mentees, when those in positions of authority approach their roles with humility and "lead from behind." Transformational co-mentoring (TCM) is a model in which power differentials are attenuated by the principles of: Egalitarianism, Collaboration, Coming from a Place of Not Knowing, and Openness to Learning. Through these principles both mentors and mentees learn, grow, and transform. Owing to the innate reduction in power differentials, TCM is founded on the idea that masterful mentors are themselves masterful learners. No matter the difference in job title or societal position, each individual has much to gain when approaching situations and other people from a place of not knowing, with an openness to learning. Synergistic learning occurs in nearly all relationships when enacted from egalitarian and collaborative perspectives.

Application of TCM to Social Change: Equity, Diversity, and Empowerment

Applied to societal issues, TCM has the potential to increase equity, support diversity, and empower individuals and communities. The Roots to Wings program, overseen by Dr. Mirna Ramos-Diaz, in the Yakima Valley, exemplifies this application of TCM. Roots to Wings is a health sciences education pathway program that serves Native American and Hispanic students between grades seven and twelve in the lower Yakima valley. One of the goals of the program is for youth who participate in the program to graduate from college and enter health professional careers serving their communities of origin.

Video of Dr. Mirna Ramos-Diaz describing the development of Roots and Wings and its application of TCM.

Paper presented at the 2013 International Mentoring Conference at University of New Mexico on the discovery of the TCM Model.

Article published by American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine about the Roots to Wings program.

Comparison of various theories of mentoring

TCM Unifying Principles