Ever since the Greek poet Homer’s “faithful and wise” Mentor first advised Odysseus, or Merlyn the young King Arthur, wise men have counseled, taught, coached, and sponsored the young. There have been mentors and protégés in philosophy, the arts and letters, the military, and even in professional sports. In the business world, however, the importance and existence of mentors have been largely unheralded.
A version of this article appeared in the January 1979 issue of Harvard Business Review.
