Executive Sponsors for Black Men in Corporate America

Nepotism is real.

Companies are just clubs, and the sooner we realize that, the better.

We used to play in treehouses when we were kids.

Some kids could go in, but others couldn't.

Corporations act in the same way.

Those at higher levels of success know, like, and trust the people who are moving up the ladder.

While you may be great at your job, you can only get so far with your skills.

Imagine if your dad owned the company where you work now.

Do you think it would be hard for you to get a promotion?

No.

Because he wants you to learn how to run a business from the top down, you would be in the C-suite at the age of 25.

An executive sponsor is the same way.

You have a C-level, SVP, VP, senior director, or director working to help you move up in your career.

These are people in charge of the company who want you to win and are committed to making that happen.

Find out if your company has an executive sponsorship program by asking your black employee resource group, your direct manager, or HR. If so, join.

If your company doesn't have a formal program, learn about the top people in your company and get to know them well enough that one of them wants to help you.

When you're with your executive sponsor, you don't have to talk in a stiff way. You can keep being yourself.?

But once you have your executive sponsor, you need to get down to business.

Be clear and bold when you ask for help, so that no one has any doubts about how they can help you succeed.

"In two months, I'm going for a promotion." "Could you talk to my boss about it?"

"Are there any projects coming up that I can work on to help my career?"

However, you also want to help each other out.

Ask them what their short-term and long-term career goals are. Find out what they like to do outside of work. Find out what they did to get where they are now. Ask about the people they've helped in the past. Ask them what you can do to help them.

First and foremost, you want to be a "yes" man with your executive sponsor.

You should buy and read a book that night if they tell you to. If they ask you to talk to someone, join a group, or change something about yourself, you should say yes.

They are there to help you, and if they see that you pay attention to what they say, they will keep helping you. If you take too long to do things or don't finish them, they will lose interest quickly and move on.

If you want to move up the corporate ladder quickly and want help getting an executive sponsor, please contact me at:

www.blackexecutivemen.com?

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Best,

Jewel Edward Love, Jr.

Founder, Black Executive men