Mentorship Is Not Enough: Why Women Need Sponsorship
Why Sponsorship, Not Just Mentorship, Is the Key to Women's Leadership Success
For years, we have been told that mentorship is the key to career success.
Find a mentor. Build relationships. Learn from those who have gone before you.
Mentorship is valuable. It provides guidance, encouragement, and perspective. Throughout my career, I have benefited from mentors who shared their experiences, challenged my thinking, and helped me navigate complex professional environments.
But after more than two decades in leadership, I have learned an important truth:
Mentorship alone is not enough.
Many talented women have mentors. Far fewer have sponsors.
The difference matters.
A Mentor Talks With You
- A mentor talks with you.
- A sponsor talks about you when you are not in the room.
- A mentor helps you prepare for opportunities.
- A sponsor helps create opportunities.
- A mentor offers advice.
- A sponsor uses their influence, credibility, and political capital to advocate for your advancement.
Too often, women receive guidance while others receive access.
We are coached, developed, and encouraged. We attend leadership programs, participate in professional development, and build impressive résumés. Yet when leadership opportunities emerge, key decisions are frequently made in rooms we never enter and during conversations we never hear.
That is where sponsorship becomes critical.
The Issue Was Visibility and Advocacy
Throughout my career in higher education and research administration, I have observed exceptional women who consistently exceeded expectations. They delivered results, led teams, solved institutional challenges, and demonstrated remarkable expertise. Yet many remained overlooked for promotions, high-profile assignments, and executive leadership opportunities.
The issue was rarely competence.
The issue was visibility and advocacy.
Someone must be willing to say:
"She is ready."
"She should lead this initiative."
"She belongs at this table."
"Consider her for this opportunity."
Sponsorship is not about favoritism. It is about ensuring that talented individuals are seen, recognized, and considered. For women—and particularly for women from historically underrepresented backgrounds—sponsorship can be transformational.
Visibility Creates Opportunity
As a Black woman leader, I understand the challenges that can arise when your contributions are not always fully recognized. My doctoral research explored the experiences of Black women leaders in higher education and revealed a recurring theme: visibility matters.
Many participants described working hard, producing results, and demonstrating leadership while still feeling unseen.
Their experiences reinforced something I had witnessed throughout my own journey:
- Talent alone does not guarantee opportunity.
- Visibility creates opportunity.
- Advocacy accelerates opportunity.
- Sponsorship unlocks opportunity.
Sponsorship Unlocks Opportunity
Organizations that are serious about developing future leaders must move beyond mentorship-only models. They must intentionally create cultures in which leaders actively sponsor emerging talent, open doors, recommend individuals for stretch assignments, and advocate for advancement.
Likewise, women must be encouraged not only to seek mentors but also to build relationships with individuals who are willing to champion their growth.
This requires a shift in mindset.
Instead of asking, "Who can advise me?" we should also ask, "Who is willing to advocate for me?"
And for those already in positions of influence, we should ask ourselves another important question:
"Whose career am I helping to advance?"
Leadership is not measured solely by what we accomplish ourselves. It is also measured by the opportunities we create for others.
Mentorship helps women navigate the path.
Sponsorship helps them access it.
The future of women's leadership depends on both.
