Mentorship vs Sponsorship: Why You Need Both for Career Growth
Think back through your career. Have you enjoyed professional relationships where people have helped you step outside your comfort zone, guide you as you defined your career goals, or acted as a sounding board for advice? Chances are you experienced the benefits of mentorship, whether it was in a formal or informal capacity.
Many of us might have had experiences with mentorship, but we might not have ever benefited from a sponsor. And we might not understand the difference between these two important career development relationships.
Sponsors are people, typically in more senior positions, who advocate for you and help open doors so that you can progress in your career and take advantage of opportunities you might not otherwise have access to.
Let’s look more closely at the main differences between mentorship and sponsorship, and why both are so important in shaping our professional trajectories.
Mentorship Centers on Guidance
Who they are: A mentor is usually someone more experienced, though they don't have to be more senior to you. They might have been in your field for longer or have worked in a wider variety of roles. These are folks who share wisdom, feedback, and career guidance.
What they do: They advise you, help you refine soft and hard skills, set goals, offer perspective, and connect you with a broader network.
You are the driver: You grow because of your effort. Mentors are there to support you, but you define what you want to get out of the relationship and they help meet you where you are.
Sponsorship Focuses on Proactive Advocacy
Who they are: Sponsors are people in positions of influence, including senior leaders closest to potential promotions and development opportunities. They have a seat at executive tables where decisions are made and can have influence over the direction of those decisions.
What they do: Simply put: they champion you. You are top of mind for them and they speak about you in high-stakes meetings, pushing for your promotion, opening doors, and generally positioning you for upward mobility.
High stakes: Because reputation is on the line, sponsorship is a professional “bet” on you. Typically, sponsors are well acquainted with you and can vouch for the caliber of your work and the quality of your character.
Mentor or Sponsor? Here’s a Quick Comparison
Why Mentorship Usually Comes First
You can’t reach for a sponsor’s hand before showing you’re ready for the climb. Mentorship builds that foundation by refining skills, establishing trust, and building credibility. This, in turn, makes sponsorship possible. Think of mentorship as the seed, and sponsorship as the sunlight and water that help it grow.
Real-World Example: Indra Nooyi & Mentorship at PepsiCo
During her time as CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi was known for actively mentoring emerging leaders within the organization. But when she elevated Ramon Laguarta—first to President, then supported his succession to CEO—it was a clear act of sponsorship. Nooyi didn’t just guide him; she publicly endorsed him, gave him stretch opportunities, and influenced his visibility at the board level. That progression shows the shift from mentor to sponsor.
Why You Need Both (Especially Today)
The world of work is changing at an increasingly rapid pace, with no signs of slowing down. To succeed in the future, you’ll need to acquire skills, create strong relationships, and find advocates to help you along the way. Both mentorship and sponsorship helps you in doing that.
How? Mentors equip you to perform through enhancing skills, shaping mindset, and building networks. Sponsors ensure you get noticed by the right people at the right time so you don’t miss out on crucial opportunities in today’s–and tomorrow’s–competitive talent market.
How to Cultivate Each Relationship
Finding a Mentor
Identify your goals
Start by clarifying where you want to grow. Do you need to sharpen technical skills, develop executive presence, or navigate a career pivot? Knowing this helps you find someone whose strengths align with your development areas.
Seek guidance aligned with your goals
A good mentor doesn’t have to be in your organization or even your industry. What matters is experience, perspective, and a willingness to invest time and insight.
Communicate clearly
Be specific about your expectations. Do you need guidance on building strategic thinking skills? Or, do you want to learn about how to effectively lead teams? Clear intentions build trust and purpose from the start.
Follow through on guidance and feedback
Showing you act on their advice builds credibility and motivates them to stay invested. Mentorship is a two-way relationship. Make sure you respect their time by being coachable and proactive.
Finding a Sponsor
Excel visibly
Sponsors are drawn to high performers who consistently deliver results. Make your achievements known through your impact.
Build trust
Demonstrate not just competence, but also judgment, agility, and values that align with the organization's mission.
Let others in
Be open about your career goals in appropriate forums. A potential sponsor can’t advocate for you if they don’t know what you aspire to—clarity fuels opportunity.
Be ready for opportunity
When a sponsor opens a door, it often comes with visibility, stakes, and scrutiny. Show up prepared, stay humble, and treat the opportunity as a test of both skill and character.
The Sponsorship Gap for Underrepresented Talent
While sponsorship is a powerful accelerator, access isn’t always equal. Women and professionals from underrepresented backgrounds often face systemic barriers, like fewer informal networks, unconscious bias, and narrower access to senior leaders, making sponsorship harder to secure.
Sponsors tend to bet on those within their close circles, which can lead to a cycle where people who look like current leaders get the most advocacy. That’s why organizations must be intentional about creating equitable visibility and development pathways. And as individuals, it’s important to build relationships strategically, find allies who believe in potential over pedigree, and seek sponsors who recognize both talent and tenacity.
For more on advancing equity, check out my post, Actions for Equity: Women in the Workplace, which explores dismantling the “broken rung” and how mentorship and sponsorship contribute to systemic change. And to understand how these relationships fit into a broader, inclusive ecosystem, read Key Traits of an Inclusive Workplace, which covers mentoring and sponsorship pathways.
Wrapping Up
Think of mentors and sponsors as co-pilots on your career journey, but each plays a distinct role. A mentor helps you chart the course. A sponsor lights the runway and pushes you into flight.
Start with mentorship as the foundation. Then look for that advocate who believes in you enough to use their voice. When those two forces come together, career growth isn’t just possible, it’s accelerated.