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There are mentors and there are sponsors
Mentors give you advice. Sponsors advocate for you, especially in spaces that you don't have access to.
In other words, sponsors will go to war for you while mentors will give you advice on how to win your battles.
Let's dive into it
Mentors give you advice. Sponsors advocate for you, especially in spaces that you don't have access to.
In other words, sponsors will go to war for you while mentors will give you advice on how to win your battles.
Let's dive into it
I'll answer these questions:
1. Who are sponsors?
2. Why do you need sponsors?
3. What do sponsors actually do?
4. How to find sponsors?
Then, I'll discuss how this topic relates to equity and inclusion.
Let's do it.
1. Who are sponsors?
2. Why do you need sponsors?
3. What do sponsors actually do?
4. How to find sponsors?
Then, I'll discuss how this topic relates to equity and inclusion.
Let's do it.
1. Who are sponsors?
Sponsors (or champions) are people with power and influence (e.g. company executives) who believe in you & your potential and invest their reputation and network for your success and upward mobility.
Sponsors can also be mentors but they don't have to be.
Sponsors (or champions) are people with power and influence (e.g. company executives) who believe in you & your potential and invest their reputation and network for your success and upward mobility.
Sponsors can also be mentors but they don't have to be.
2. Why sponsors?
No one achieves success in a vacuum. Successful people usually have 1+ sponsors.
Sponsors have access to spaces and information that their protégés do not. When right about their protégé's ability to deliver, they increase their own influence. It's a win-win.
No one achieves success in a vacuum. Successful people usually have 1+ sponsors.
Sponsors have access to spaces and information that their protégés do not. When right about their protégé's ability to deliver, they increase their own influence. It's a win-win.
3. What do they do?
Sponsors provide:
Visibility: they brag about you to people in their network, without you asking.
Career opportunities: they recommend you for opportunities whenever possible.
Advocacy: they have your back and advocate for you in tough situations.
Sponsors provide:
Visibility: they brag about you to people in their network, without you asking.
Career opportunities: they recommend you for opportunities whenever possible.
Advocacy: they have your back and advocate for you in tough situations.
4. How to get one?
You can recruit mentors but you can only identify sponsors.
Since sponsors put their reputation on the line, the starting point is to do stellar work. You have to be a high performer in your current role for people to notice and sponsor you.
You can recruit mentors but you can only identify sponsors.
Since sponsors put their reputation on the line, the starting point is to do stellar work. You have to be a high performer in your current role for people to notice and sponsor you.
The next step is to talk about your work and contributions.
Take advantage of speaking opportunities, poster sessions or other general venues.
Whenever possible, meet with people in positions of power, learn from them & tell them about your contributions and goals.
Take advantage of speaking opportunities, poster sessions or other general venues.
Whenever possible, meet with people in positions of power, learn from them & tell them about your contributions and goals.
Over time you will see who starts doing some of the items in point 3 above. Maintain communication with those individuals and build trust. They are your potential sponsors.
As I mentioned earlier, this topic has a direct link with equity and inclusion. Let's see why.
As I mentioned earlier, this topic has a direct link with equity and inclusion. Let's see why.
Sponsor-Protégé relationships tend to happen naturally when people see themselves in younger professionals (partly why most C-suites are White and male).
This obviously puts minoritized individuals at a disadvantage since there are less people like them in positions of power.
This obviously puts minoritized individuals at a disadvantage since there are less people like them in positions of power.
Women and minoritized individuals are usually overmentored & undersponsored
While mentorship is great, it does not lead to career advancement by itself.
To some extent, mentorship assumes you have to be better to progress. Its' about you.
While mentorship is great, it does not lead to career advancement by itself.
To some extent, mentorship assumes you have to be better to progress. Its' about you.
Sponsorship, on the other hand, assumes you already have what it takes and if given a chance you will make a big difference. It's about the system.
There is no other way to put it, if you are in a position of power BE A CHAMPION for minoritized individuals.
There is no other way to put it, if you are in a position of power BE A CHAMPION for minoritized individuals.
For more information on this topic @HarvardBiz has a few articles on the subject and there is a book by @SAHewlett titled "The sponsor effect: How to Be a Better Leader by Investing in Others" that's usually cited.
If you know of other resources, add them below.
If you know of other resources, add them below.
If you enjoyed this thread, follow me for more.
I talk about innovation and scientific careers from perspective of Black scientist in industry.
PC: Youssef Naddam on @unsplash
What are your thoughts about sponsorship and mentorship? Have you had a sponsor in your career?
I talk about innovation and scientific careers from perspective of Black scientist in industry.
PC: Youssef Naddam on @unsplash
What are your thoughts about sponsorship and mentorship? Have you had a sponsor in your career?
