Mentoring is often seen as a one-way street, but the people who do it will tell you the mentor gains just as much as the mentee.

Mentoring is one of the most valued yet under-used tools for growth, for individuals, teams, and whole organisations. It's easy to picture the mentee as the one who benefits, with the mentor simply giving up their time. In reality, the rewards run both ways: mentors gain fresh perspective, sharper leadership skills, a wider network, and a real sense of purpose. Here's what's in it for the mentor, and why so many people keep mentoring long after they need to.

Why do people become mentors?

To find out, we interviewed 18 mentors from Startmate, one of Australia's leading startup accelerators, whose mentors come from some of the country's most successful companies.

69% said their trigger was internal, their main motivation was to give back or pay it forward. Many had been mentored themselves and wanted to offer the same support to others, or to help people avoid the costly mistakes they'd made early in their own careers.

Others were drawn by the chance to grow their network, and 18% simply did it because someone asked, all the more reason to ask the experienced people around you to get involved.

What do mentors get out of it?

When we asked mentors what was in it for them, a few clear themes emerged:

• The joy of giving back (50%). Half of the mentors said simply enjoying the experience was their reward, they get a kick out of sharing advice and watching someone move forward because of it.
• Their own learning and growth (43%). Many found that mentoring helps them learn, gain new insights, and stay sharp, proof that even highly experienced people gain a lot from less formal channels of learning.
• Connection and perspective. Others valued the real-life case studies, fresh thinking, and steady flow of new people and valuable connections that mentoring brings.

These benefits aren't unique to startups. Across workplaces, associations, and communities, mentoring consistently pays the mentor back, in leadership growth, engagement, and retention.

What do mentors find most rewarding?

Most pointed to seeing the people and companies they support grow, prosper, and tackle obstacles that once seemed impossible. But one answer captured it best:

“

The most rewarding part of mentoring is finding an insight that was missed by a founder and watching them light up at the new possibilities. Either a problem solved, or an opportunity discovered. Shoulders move back, head lifts, eyes widen. Seeing the lightbulb moment in front of you.

— A Startmate mentor

Mentoring is a two-way street

Mentoring is often framed as a sacrifice, the mentor giving up their time for someone else. But it endures precisely because there's so much value on both sides of the relationship.

Whether you become a mentor to give back, to keep learning, to grow your network, or simply because you were asked, the experience is almost guaranteed to be a rich and rewarding one, for you as much as for your mentee.

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of being a mentor?

Mentors report a stronger sense of purpose, fresh perspective and new insights, a wider professional network, and growth in their own leadership and communication skills. There's also evidence of career upside: mentors in workplace programs tend to be promoted and retained at higher rates than their peers.

Do I need to be an expert to be a mentor?

No. You don't need all the answers, your role is to guide, share your experience, and help your mentee think things through. Even an outside perspective can make all the difference. See How to be a great mentor for practical tips.

How much time does mentoring take?

Less than most people expect. A regular, reliable cadence matters more than long sessions, many mentoring relationships run on a catch-up every few weeks. You and your mentee agree what works for you both at the start. The First Meeting Checklist for Mentors is a good place to begin.