Workplace Sponsorship: 4 Proven Tips to Find and Become a Great Career Sponsor

Key Points

• It seems likely that becoming a sponsor at work involves advocating for someone's career advancement using your influence.

• Research suggests key steps include selecting the right person, setting clear expectations, and actively connecting them to opportunities.

• There is controversy around access to sponsorship, especially for underrepresented groups, highlighting the need for inclusive practices.

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Understand the Role

A sponsor at work is someone who uses their influence and position to advocate for another person's career growth, helping them gain promotions, key assignments, or visibility. Unlike a mentor, who provides advice, a sponsor takes action, like recommending you for opportunities or supporting your projects.

Steps to Become a Sponsor

• Select the Right Person: Choose someone with proven talent and potential, like experts in their field or those who show initiative.

• Set Clear Expectations: Be honest about what you can offer, including time and goals, to avoid overcommitting.

• Advocate Effectively: Highlight their achievements and value to the organization, using specific examples.

• Be a Connector: Use your network to introduce them to key people and opportunities, like important meetings or projects.

• Spend Your Social Capital: Use your influence to support them in critical situations, such as nominations for promotions.

• Build a Genuine Relationship: Foster a personal connection through shared interests to strengthen the partnership.

• Promote Inclusivity: Actively sponsor underrepresented groups to help create a more diverse workplace.

Additional Tips

• Be proactive in finding opportunities for your sponsoree and ensure the relationship is mutually beneficial, enhancing your leadership skills too.

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A Comprehensive Analysis of Becoming a 'Sponsor' at Work and Helping Someone's Career Take Off

As of 09:44 AM PDT on Saturday, June 28, 2025, becoming a "sponsor" at work involves leveraging your influence and position to advocate for another individual's career advancement, a role distinct from mentorship. This note provides a detailed examination of the steps to become an effective sponsor, the qualities to look for in a sponsoree, and the broader implications for workplace inclusivity, drawing from recent insights and best practices.

Context and Definition

In the workplace, a sponsor is defined as a decision-maker who actively vouches for and pulls strings behind the scenes to lead to career gains, such as promotions, raises, or plum assignments. Unlike a mentor, who provides guidance and advice through conversations, a sponsor "talks about" their sponsoree to others in positions of power, using their influence to create tangible opportunities. This distinction is crucial, as sponsorship involves staking one's reputation on the sponsoree's success, a higher level of commitment than mentorship .

Sponsorship is particularly vital for creating inclusive workplaces, unlocking potential, and countering unconscious bias, especially for underrepresented groups like LGBTQIA+ employees, who are 7% less likely to have a psychologically and emotionally healthy work environment compared to their straight coworkers . Research shows sponsorship opens doors, exposes individuals to professional networks, and develops the next generation of leaders, making it a powerful tool for career advancement.

Steps to Become an Effective Sponsor

To become a sponsor and help someone's career take off, consider the following steps, derived from recent analyses and expert advice:

1. Understand the Role: Recognize that sponsorship requires active advocacy, not just advice. It involves using your influence to recommend your sponsoree for opportunities, support their projects, or nominate them for promotions. This is distinct from mentoring, which focuses on guidance and feedback.

2. Select the Right Person: Choose individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent, initiative, and potential for growth. Look for "experts" in their field—those sought out for their unique knowledge or capabilities, such as Condoleezza Rice, whose expertise in Soviet affairs led to sponsorship by Brent Scowcroft and the Bush presidents . Also, consider those who are "indispensable," going beyond official roles to help senior leaders, like Mellody Hobson, whose proactivity as an intern at Ariel Investments led to sponsorship by John Rogers, eventually becoming co-CEO.

3. Set Clear Expectations: Be transparent about what you can offer and what the sponsorship relationship will entail. Define the scope, including meeting frequency, goals, and duration, to avoid overcommitting. For example, clarify responsibilities and set a time limit to ensure both parties are aligned, as suggested by Great Place To Work® research .

4. Advocate Effectively: When speaking on behalf of your sponsoree, focus on their achievements and the value they bring to the organization. Use specific examples to highlight their contributions, such as redirecting a meeting to focus on operational issues and asking, “Last year, timeliness and efficiency were a complaint. Kiana has offered a solution that could work. How can we support her?” as done by Golakov in a case study . This approach challenges bias without grandstanding, focusing on results.

5. Be a Connector: Use your network and position to introduce your sponsoree to key people and opportunities. Invite them to important meetings, events, or projects where they can gain visibility and build relationships with senior leaders. For example, host networking events or allow them to shadow meetings to increase their proximity to decision-makers, a strategy emphasized by Alex Allen at Cisco, No. 1 on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® List for two years .

6. Spend Your Social Capital: Use your influence to advocate for your sponsoree in critical situations, such as nominating them for promotions or supporting their ideas in meetings. This involves "spending" your reputation on them, as sponsorship requires staking your credibility on their success. For instance, Golakov and the Wing Commander supported a silent march commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr., encouraging participation from other nations, demonstrating the use of influence for advocacy .

7. Build a Genuine Relationship: While the primary goal is career advancement, fostering a personal connection can enhance the effectiveness of the sponsorship. Look for shared interests or values to strengthen the bond and build trust. For example, pursue common passions at work, like recruiting or diversity initiatives, to observe leadership qualities and gain trust, as seen in a banking executive bonding with a sponsor over art and theater, leading to inclusion in the executive management team . Be a good listener and understand your sponsoree's career goals to tailor your support.

8. Promote Inclusivity: Actively seek to sponsor individuals from underrepresented groups, such as women, people of color, or members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who may face greater challenges in advancing their careers. Research shows only 5% of Black employees have sponsors compared to 20% of white employees, highlighting the need for formal programs to ensure equity . Your sponsorship can help create a more diverse and inclusive workplace by opening doors for those who might otherwise be overlooked.

Additional Tips and Considerations

• Be Proactive: Look for opportunities to support your sponsoree, such as recommending them for high-visibility projects or ensuring they are considered for promotions. This aligns with the idea of being indispensable, where taking initiative can lead to sponsorship opportunities.

• Avoid Overcommitting: Be realistic about the time and effort you can invest in the relationship to maintain effectiveness and avoid burnout.

• Make It Mutually Beneficial: While the focus is on helping your sponsoree, sponsorship can also benefit you by enhancing your leadership skills, expanding your network, and contributing to a more talented and diverse organization. For example, seniors can revitalize their impact on the business and learn from a generation with different ambitions and challenges .

• Build Trust: Encourage your sponsoree to follow through on advice, such as completing a suggested certificate program, to show commitment and strengthen the relationship. Be open, direct, and gracious in communications, and consider regular check-ins if initial talks go well .

Challenges and Controversies

There is controversy around access to sponsorship, particularly for underrepresented groups. Research indicates disparities, such as only 5% of Black employees having sponsors compared to 20% of white employees, suggesting systemic barriers . This highlights the need for formal sponsorship programs to ensure equity, especially for women and people of color, who may face additional challenges in finding sponsors. Companies need to address these gaps to create more inclusive workplaces, as sponsorship can be a critical factor in career advancement.

Historical Context

Historically, sponsorship has been a key driver of career advancement, particularly in male-dominated fields, with informal networks often favoring those with existing connections. The current emphasis on inclusivity reflects a shift toward formal programs and awareness, aiming to level the playing field and ensure diverse talent is supported. This evolution is evident in recent discussions, such as those at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, where author Carla Harris described a sponsor as someone who "spends their capital on you"

Conclusion

As of June 28, 2025, becoming a sponsor at work involves actively advocating for someone's career advancement by leveraging your influence, selecting the right person, setting clear expectations, and building a genuine relationship. By following these steps, you can help someone's career take off while contributing to a more inclusive and equitable workplace. However, challenges around access to sponsorship, particularly for underrepresented groups, underscore the need for ongoing efforts to ensure fairness and opportunity for all.

Key Citations

• Great Place To Work® 4 Tips for Becoming an Effective Workplace Sponsor

• The Muse Sponsor vs. Mentor

• Time How to Find a Sponsor to Boost Your Career

• Harvard Business Review How to Do Sponsorship Right

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