Empowering Women: The Power of Mentorship & Sponsorship in the Workplace

There are many influential women whose achievements have laid the foundation and created remarkable legacies for generations. Wangari Maathai, for example, a Kenyan environmental activist, was the very first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize for her work as leader of the Green Belt Movement. This movement empowered and inspired women to take action through planting trees with the aim of conserving the environment, promoting sustainability, and establishing a source of financial income for women in the region. She also courageously stood up against an oppressive regime in Kenya, helping and inspiring many in the fight for democratic rights. Today, we can still see and feel her impact, both locally and globally.

Another example would be Madam C.J. Walker, who was the first female self-made millionaire in America. She overcame sexism and racial discrimination as she built the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company in 1910. She made her fortune thanks to her homemade line of hair care products for Black women. However, what makes her success story inspiring is that she paid her success forward by employing thousands of African American women who would have otherwise been relegated to low-paying jobs.

Mentorship and sponsorship for women is an impactful way to encourage their advancement in the workplace. Just as Wangari Maathai and Madam C.J. Walker empowered and paved the way for other women to succeed, having a mentor or sponsor in the workplace can serve as a critical catalyst for a woman’s career. Both mentorship and sponsorship hold benefits for career advancement, but each is distinct: while a mentor is someone who has knowledge and will share it with you, a sponsor is someone who will use their power and influence to help you advance. Mentors provide advice, feedback and coaching through formal or informal relationships, while sponsors use their influence or leadership status to advocate for your advancement or provide you with access to opportunities.

Mentorship and Sponsorship: Why are they Integral to Career Development?

Despite the progress companies have made by investing in mentorship and sponsorship programs to advance female talent, women with high potential are still less likely to be awarded promotions and appointed to senior management roles compared to men. What women need are support networks. These can be found in employee resource groups for women or formal mentoring programs. These communities or programs give women opportunities to build connections and find support. Here are some of the benefits of mentorship or sponsorship in the workplace:

Representation. Seeing women in leadership positions where they are respected, their insights are valued, and they have the ability to influence or create real impact on a team or company is very critical. Statistics show that many organizations lack substantial female representation in leadership roles. Seeing a leader in your organization, that you can identify with, gives you the confidence that you too can advance to that level.

Connections. Having someone in one’s corner creates an immense psychological safety for women at the workplace. Mentorships and sponsorships allow women to find support and encouragement in their workplace. In a workplace where women are a minority, they may feel isolated. Developing a relationship with other women in business can help them feel more connected. Women can also benefit by building networks of key and influential people to get to know other successful leaders through their mentors or sponsors. These connections can provide women with the confidence to pursue new opportunities.

Toolkits for Career Growth. When women mentor women, they can develop leadership skills as well as practical abilities to advocate for themselves. Likewise, female mentors can train and equip younger women with skills, like negotiating for a raise. They can accelerate their development and provide what some describe as shortcuts to success. They can also offer advice on navigating their careers and creating a work-life balance.

Mentorship and sponsorship can create a powerful combination that helps women in the workplace accelerate their career progression, expand their skill set, and increase their visibility and influence. They can also help organizations attract, retain, and develop top talent, foster a culture of learning and development, and drive innovation and growth.

If you’re looking to benefit from mentorship or sponsorship, it’s essential to be proactive and intentional in seeking out these relationships. Look for individuals who have the experience, knowledge, and network that aligns with your career goals, and be clear about what you hope to achieve through the relationship. Remember that you’ll need to invest time and effort in building and maintaining these relationships as they are a two-way street.

Additionally, there are companies who have official sponsorship programs, but these are not always effective. It’s much more authentic and helpful if you develop a sponsor organically. It’s not easy to find a sponsor, but more often, it’s a mentor or a manager who becomes your advocate. Not every mentor can become a sponsor, because they need to have the appropriate influence, but they can still be helpful in one way or another.

In conclusion, mentorship and sponsorship are powerful tools that can help individuals thrive in their careers and consequently help organizations succeed in a rapidly changing business landscape. By investing in these relationships, you can unlock your full potential and achieve your professional goals.

Article by Michelle Nthemba

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