Background: The entire audit industry is built upon male preferences, making it more difficult for women to succeed in career advancement both vertically and horizontally. The glass ceiling, firewall, and leadership labyrinth are all highly present within the Swedish audit industry due to the inevitable masculine processes of work and recruitment. Although several means have been put into place to reduce the discrimination, the industry remains unequal in terms of gender distribution.

Purpose: This study aims to create a deeper understanding of if, and in that case how mentoring can improve women's chances for career development within the Swedish audit industry. The thesis and its findings will hopefully give valuable insights for businesses, while providing a more holistic and richer view.

Method: This qualitative study uses an abductive and exploratory research approach. The empirical material was collected through semi-structured interviews with nine participants from different audit organizations. Finally, to make understanding of all of the material, a thematic analysis was executed.

Findings: The findings indicate that mentorship has been implemented in several different ways in the organizations. By creating a sense of belonging in networks, enhancing personal development and confidence, and providing knowledge, mentorship is perceived as a highly valued tool in the process of challenging both the vertical and horizontal career obstacles.