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Catalyst sponsorship guide: Why sponsorship programs are important

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By  Catalyst staff

Executive summary

This primer serves as a starting point for leaders who are interested in developing and sustaining effective sponsorship programs within their workplaces.

Relationships are an important aspect of any work culture. Cultivating a strong network and securing advocates are critical steps for advancement and development — especially for women, who are often left out of more informal activities. Catalyst research has found that while mentoring is essential to leadership development, it is not enough, on its own, to help women advance. Our research points to a more influential professional relationship: sponsorship.1 Catalyst defines a sponsor as a senior leader or other person who uses strong influence to help the sponsee obtain high-visibility assignments, promotions, or jobs.

Our research also shows that men’s “mentors” are actually more senior, more influential, and have access to a wider network than women’s mentors.2 In other words, the men’s “mentors” are often really sponsors, a critical difference. When women have sponsors, they are just as likely as men to be promoted.3

Given these dynamics, sponsorship can be an essential and impactful tool for closing opportunity gaps and fortifying robust pipelines that do not overlook critical talent.

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