Develop / Senior investor / Sponsorship and advocacy

Lift sponsorship and advocacy

A cross-industry program inspiring and enabling leaders to advocate for and support diverse talent in investment management, while building emerging leaders’ confidence, capability and career commitment

Power of sponsorship

Sponsorship is a relationship that evolves from lesser to greater trust and public commitment.

Ascending the path to senior leadership depends on so much more than raw talent. Your networks, personality type, confidence and life capacity are all major contributors to your ability to navigate organisational systems, capture opportunities and manage the intensity of executive aspirations. This reality means some extraordinary talent face more potholes, dead-ends and detours than others.

Structured sponsorship and advocacy programs play the critical role of pairing diverse talent with influential executives who can provide access to development experiences and help them navigate the unwritten rules of success before ultimately advocating for their promotional potential.

Over six months, the Lift sponsorship and advocacy program pairs sponsors and sponsees from within organisations, creating a parallel learning experience for both cohorts. Up to six organisations participate, creating the opportunity for sponsors and sponsees to learn from peers in other funds and build their network. 

Who is it for?

  • Talented mid-level investors who aspire to a leadership position within their organisation
  • Diverse talent with exceptional but ‘off the radar’ leadership potential
  • Senior leaders wanting to elevate and accelerate the careers of others in their organisation, and leave a lasting legacy
  • Senior and mid-level investors who are keen to learn with peers from across industry

Cbus Super participants worked on important development areas that have noticeably improved their leadership impact. By using substantial tools that support deep self-reflection, the sponsor / sponsee conversations were able to get to the crux of challenges quickly.

Leader insights

Kellie Wood shares her insights on the benefits of participating in a formal sponsorship program.

I've learned to listen more and tell less, while building trust and alignment with the team in support of our growth ambitions.

Development pathways

Sponsor development pathway

Lift supports and challenges leaders to move beyond managing and mentoring others  to use the full suite of sponsorship tools that enable talent to thrive.

We use powerful content and tools that generate the insights and confidence to support action.

Sponsee development pathway

Lift supports and challenges aspiring leaders to take hold of their careers with clarity and confidence so they can chart a pathway to leadership. With a focus on the inner game of leadership, we develop emerging leaders in the areas of:

  • Adaptive leadership
  • Leadership purpose and career strategy
  • Energy management, confidence and passion
  • Influence and impact
  • Building a strategic network
Sponsorship Levels
Graphic showing the emerging leader development pathway

We are bold in our optimism that through our continued leadership, work and focus we can become one of the world's first gender balanced investment managers.

I think of the Lift program as investing in my own potential. What might take years to learn about yourself is accelerated in months. Yolanda's advice is always on point and insightful.

Featured resources

Blog
While female representation in Australia’s investment management industry is increasing, the pace of change is slow. To accelerate the growth of women in investments, we need both a bottom-up and top-down approach.
Blog
Yolanda spoke at the Schroder’s 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) event, discussing the theme of gender equity and how we can accelerate the growth of women in investment management with Kellie Wood, Schroder’s Deputy Head of Fixed Income Australia.
Article
How we gather and process information, make decisions and respond to situations is driven in large part by our personality. The jobs we love and hate, the people we're drawn to and the ones we avoid, how we show up in teams, and our core beliefs about ourselves and the world are all massively impacted by our personality preferences.

Are you up to the challenge? Register your interest.

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