Final answer:
True, a mentor is an experienced individual who provides developmental guidance and support through frequent dialogue. Mentorship is vital for career growth, particularly for women, as it can help overcome barriers and stimulate creativity through discussions.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a mentor is indeed an experienced person who is willing to engage in frequent dialogue with the purpose of providing developmental guidance and support. Mentoring involves a more seasoned individual, or mentor, guiding a less experienced person, often referred to as a mentee. This relationship can be a formal arrangement within an organization or develop on a more informal basis. Good mentorship is critical in the early stages of career development; it can stimulate creativity, facilitate career success, and reduce feelings of isolation, especially amongst groups who may face additional challenges, such as women in traditionally male-dominated workplaces.
The effectiveness of mentorship can be seen through face-to-face conversations that lead to new insights and discoveries. As noted by Steitz (2010), these interactions are not simply beneficial, but are often necessary for exceptional achievement. For example, a mentee might be influenced by a mentor in a discussion that leads to a creative solution to a problem. This can be particularly critical for women's career success, as mentoring can help them navigate informal networks and overcome barriers like discrimination in job promotions.