Building a bridge to the future: Reverse mentoring and the power of intergenerational interaction

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reverse mentoring approach in the context of the digital age and to describe its effects on leadership development, knowledge transfer, and intergenerational communication. Although mentoring is a commonly encountered concept today, reverse mentoring stands out as a new approach that is still developing. This approach involves younger and less experienced individuals mentoring older individuals who are generally more experienced and in higher positions. The literature review indicates that there are limited studies on the concept of reverse mentoring, especially in Turkey. This thesis aims to provide a new perspective to the academic literature by examining this concept in depth. The study presents predictions regarding the future of reverse mentoring practices and is among the few studies addressing this topic. Document analysis, classified as a qualitative research method, was used in this study. This method systematically examines and analyzes documents in both printed and digital formats. The concepts of mentorship, reverse mentoring, and generations are explored. The findings suggest that the reverse mentoring method can play an important role in the business world and society of the digital age. It also reveals the need for future research on how digital technologies and communication tools can shape and strengthen these mentoring relationships. When the literature is examined, there are few studies on reverse mentoring, particularly in Turkey. This thesis aims to help fill the gap in the literature by examining reverse mentoring in detail.