Sponsorship: Creating thriving and connected leadership communities

This HBR article by Janice Omadeke explores the distinctions between mentors and sponsors in professional development. Omadeke highlights that while mentors provide guidance, advice, and support, sponsors go a step further by actively advocating for their protégés, leveraging their influence and connections to create opportunities for career advancement.

This HBR article showcases the positive impact of amplifying colleagues' voices in the workplace. Drawing on a recent study that found when individuals actively promote and amplify the ideas and contributions of their colleagues, it benefits not only the individuals whose voices are elevated but also the overall team and organisation. Amplifying others' voices fosters inclusivity, encourages diverse perspectives, and improves decision-making.

This HBR article offers insights into the process of finding a career sponsor, a key figure who champions an individual's career advancement. Author Sylvia Ann Hewlett explains that a sponsor differs from a mentor in their active advocacy and tangible support, including providing high-visibility assignments and making influential introductions. The article provides practical advice on identifying potential sponsors, cultivating relationships, and earning their support by demonstrating excellence, building a strong personal brand, and fostering reciprocal relationships. Hewlett emphasises the importance of proactive sponsorship in advancing one's career and offers strategies for navigating the sponsor-sponsee relationship effectively.

Sponsorship involves leaders using their reputational capital to advocate for the career potential of others and is particularly powerful for diverse talent that often have less visibility and therefore access to career opportunities. In this article, Yolanda Beattie outlines the Future IM/Pact sponsorship model that recognises not all sponsees are ready for a promotion and not all sponsors are able to take that final step of advocacy. Rather mentoring, enabling, connecting and amplifying talent are all important steps sponsors can take to realise the potential of great people in their business.

The theme for 2023’s International Women’s Day (IWD) was #EmbraceEquity. As FutureIM/Pact was created to increase gender equity in front-office investing teams, we were all for it. In this article, Future IM/pact Founder Yolanda Beattie shares her insights on equity vs equality and why she believes sponsorship is the key to elevating women in investment management.

This article by Thought Leaders Founder Matt Church explores the importance of amplifiers and their impact on personal and professional success. Amplifiers are people who elevate others and their ideas, providing support, encouragement, and visibility. They help individuals thrive by boosting their confidence, expanding their networks, and amplifying their messages. By recognising and appreciating the value of amplifiers, organisations can create a ripple effect of positivity and empowerment, leading to personal growth, collaboration, and greater success.

This HBR article argues sponsors must go beyond the role of mentors to take on more active and strategic roles in advocating for their protégés' advancement. Sponsors need to leverage their influence, networks, and resources to create opportunities and remove barriers for those they support. By adopting a more proactive approach, sponsors can play a transformative role in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion within organisations.

This article by business coach Margot Andersen highlights the importance of leadership amplification in driving organisational success. Andersen argues that great leaders act as amplifiers, using their platform and influence to elevate the voices, ideas, and achievements of their team members. By actively amplifying others, leaders foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and empowerment that creates a positive impact, builds strong relationships, and unlocks the full potential of their teams.

This HBR article by organisational behaviour experts Herminia Ibarra and Nana von Bernuth highlights the significance of sponsorship in promoting diversity in senior leadership positions. The authors argue that traditional mentorship alone is not enough to address the underrepresentation of diverse individuals in top roles. They emphasise the importance of sponsors who actively support and advocate for junior talent from underrepresented groups, helping them access opportunities, gain visibility, and navigate organisational barriers. By investing in sponsorship relationships, companies can foster a more inclusive and diverse leadership pipeline, ultimately leading to better decision-making and business outcomes.