#7 Are you a Mentor or Sponsor?

What if the reason more women aren't advancing isn't a lack of talent, but instead a lack of advocacy?  I can count on one hand how many women have advocated for me throughout my career, and even less if I'm only looking at my work history in male dominated fields.  But men advocates?  Those, I've had lots of.  

I worry that if we continue to see our 'sisters' as competition, we'll continue to miss opportunities where there can be more of us at that metaphorical table, making decisions, opening the door and paving the way for others.

Let's look deeper into the difference between Mentors and Sponsors (and what I mean by sponsor).  

I've been finding women are often over-mentored and under-sponsored.

It's important for us to have women mentors because surrounding ourselves with empowering, uplifting women increases our confidence and courage.  But having a sponsor is a whole other level.  Sponsorship helps you get seen, heard, and considered, and opens doors that may have otherwise remain closed.

The stats are pretty crazy.  Women who report having a sponsor are not only more likely to ask for raises (hello courage), but are also 20% more likely to be promoted.

Because I've been on this research kick (thanks in part to my role in A Bolder Way Forward for Utah) I found another study from 2024:  According to The Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org:

• Women hold only 40% of management roles in corporate America.
• At the senior level, that number drops to only 27%!

Last week we talked about the scarcity of women at the top, this is fact, not a feeling we have.  And it means with fewer women at the top there are fewer opportunities for women to be sponsored by other women. And those who do make it to the top? They’re often stretched so thin, juggling responsibilities that leave them little time for intentional sponsorship.

(Ok, one last stat and I promise I'm done) Women are 54% less likely to have a sponsor than men.  Crazy right?  The hard part about this lack of sponsors is that it's due mostly to unconscious (and sometimes conscious) bias.  People tend to sponsor those who look like them, and in most leadership spaces, that still means men sponsoring men.

It's hard to swallow.  With so many men at the top, to date, men have often been more effective sponsors for women.  This is not because they’re better at it, but because they’ve held more of the power and influence that makes sponsorship impactful.

But when women do hold influence, and use it to lift others, we can change the game.

You’ve heard of Dr. Phil, right? Did you know his career was launched in the early 90s because of Oprah?  She used her platform and influence to sponsor him. That’s the power of sponsorship in action.

You may not see your influence yet, but you have it.  It is your responsibility, as a woman, a leader, a peer, to use that power to lift, encourage, and advocate for others.  Who will you intentionally sponsor?

My challenge to you this week:

Challenge #1: Audit Your Influence.  Women tend to underestimate their influence.  Take a moment to think about the rooms you're in, the decisions you influence, and the people you can advocate for.  Where do you have power (formal or informal) to elevate someone else? 

Challenge #2: Check Your Biases.  Think about the last time you recommended someone for an opportunity. Did they look like you? Think like you? Sound like you? What assumptions might have shaped your choice to recommend her?  Be intentional about inclusive-sponsorship, especially for those who don't look 'just like us'.  Who have you overlooked or underestimated?  Reach out to learn more about how you can support her.

If you haven't yet - take a moment to sign-up for the weekly emails for this series - it includes other links, like a link to a journal that follows the series as well as invitations to weekly live (virtual) group chats!  Sign Up Here

Are you fighting to be seen, heard, and valued? Longing for the confidence to show up and speak up, looking for more 1:1 encouragement or interaction? Let's chat.