Sponsorship and mentorship are two vital support mechanisms in the professional world, each with distinct roles and impacts on an individual’s career trajectory. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors of my own, while serving as a mentor to many others and championing opportunities for growth where possible.

While both are extremely valuable, opportunities for sponsorship are often harder to acquire … though highly sought after.

Mentorship involves a trusted advisor providing guidance, knowledge, and feedback to help an individual develop their skills and abilities. It’s about sharing experiences, providing insights, and offering constructive criticism to nurture personal and professional growth.

On the other hand, sponsorship goes beyond guidance and involves an individual advocating for another’s career advancement. A sponsor actively promotes and endorses the sponsored person, facilitating opportunities for growth and visibility.

In essence, mentorship is a relationship built on advice and development, while sponsorship is a strategic alliance aimed at creating opportunities and opening doors. Both are crucial for career advancement, with mentorship focusing on personal growth and skill enhancement, and sponsorship centering on advocacy and exposure to career-enhancing opportunities.

It’s often beneficial to have both mentors and sponsors in one’s professional network, as they complement each other in fostering a well-rounded and successful career. While mentors guide you through your career, sponsors actively champion your progress, leading to a more fulfilling and accelerated professional path.

So, why does sponsorship appear so hard to acquire? And what impact can a lack of sponsorship have?

Unlike mentorship, sponsorship demands a higher level of engagement and personal investment from both parties involved. Without sufficient individuals willing to sponsor and champion talent, many deserving professionals might struggle to break barriers and attain the visibility necessary for reaching their full potential. The lack of sponsorship opportunities can consequently hinder talented individuals from accessing the necessary exposure and opportunities for growth within their respective fields.

Development programs, actings, assignments and performance-based promotions are great examples of sponsorship opportunities. However, these are often the exception and not the norm, occurring behind closed doors for some and without equal opportunity to many.

So, if you’re a leader reading this, mentorship is a start, but sponsorship propels careers forward. Sponsorship is about actively championing talent and creating opportunities, not just guiding it. Your advocacy can elevate individuals, giving them a seat at the table and opening doors to success.

Don’t just show people how to get to the door, open it.