A Christmas Wish: From Mentorship to Life-Changing Sponsorship

Happy Holidays LinkedIn Family,

As we deck the halls and trim the tree, I'm reminded of a Christmas past and a career journey that taught me the profound difference between a mentor and a sponsor. ??

When I first stepped into the corporate world, I mistook my boss as my mentor. It seemed logical—after all, they were steering my work. But I soon realized that mentorship is more than oversight; it's a nurturing relationship that not everyone is prepared to offer. So I turned to the digital world, where I found unexpected mentors. From afar, I gleaned wisdom from industry leaders, and course creators learning from their public journeys, absorbing their successes and setbacks as lessons for my own path.

Mentorship is important to have and seek out. I have been blessed over the years to have some amazing mentors guide me and coach me in my presentation, my career advancement skills, and overall mindset of a leader. I never really had to think twice about who God allowed to come into my life as a mentor. Every level, there seemed to be a new mentor that would come in and show me the ropes and share the thought process of how to maneuver in corporate america. But mentorship didn't necessarily land me a leadership role. It was sponsorship that truly transformed my trajectory. After leading a team to hire over 300 telecom engineers in record time, boosting our revenue from zero to $8 million, I caught the attention of the higher-ups. Unlike mentors, who guide and advise, sponsors advocate and act. They used their influence to open doors for me, championing my name in rooms filled with decision-makers, places I had never set foot in.

I hear tons of people saying there's no such thing as a "dream job", but I know that to be a false statement. I experienced a dream job, with a great environment, and awesome team. But they were suddenly acquired and I was confronted with a tough choice with the new company: accept a significant pay cut or walk away and venture into the unknown. As a single mom at the time, the stakes were high but I chose to step into the unknown, leaving behind the security of my role.

I returned to a familiar staffing agency, a safe haven but not where my heart was. I was safe in a job but not fulfilled. My Christmas wish and prayer at the time was to go back in TA Leadership, I liked staffing but I missed building teams. It's funny because, while I was praying and wishing, a former sponsor was speaking my name in a crucial meeting. Suddenly, I was offered a Talent Acquisition Management role—a gift that only a sponsor could have facilitated. This was some years ago, but it came back to my memory, I believe, to encourage whoever is reading this.

This experience was my epiphany. Mentors can teach you, guide you, but sponsors? They transform your path. They use their clout to elevate you, to place you in the spotlight, to give you opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.

As we enjoy this festive season, let's not forget the unseen gifts of mentorship and sponsorship. One nurtures your growth, the other accelerates your journey. Both are invaluable. It's also a good time to figure out who do you want to be for those that are in need?

Wishing you all the blessings and opportunities this Christmas can bring. May you find both mentors to guide you and sponsors to propel you forward in this season.

#CareerGrowth #MentorshipVsSponsorship #ChristmasWisdom #Leadership