What Sponsors Do (That Mentors Don’t)

PART 3: ATHENA MENTORS & SPONSORS BLOG SERIES

While mentors advise you, sponsors bet on you.

A sponsor uses their reputation to endorse your potential. They put you forward for roles, promotions, projects, and panels.

As Kiva Allgood shared on the Athena podcast:

“I had a boss who took me from GE to Motorola. He believed in me—and gave me stretch assignments that let me prove myself in new arenas.”

What to Look For in a Sponsor

• They’re in the room where decisions are made.

• They have visibility and influence.

• They’ve seen your work—and believe in your potential.

How to Cultivate Sponsorship

• Build a track record of excellence and follow-through.

• Ask for feedback and implement it quickly.

• Be visible in high-impact work. Let your work speak—and then speak about your work.

Pro Tip: Sponsorship doesn’t always look like “championing.” Sometimes, it’s a quiet referral or a door opened behind the scenes.

In the final post, we’ll explore how to pay it forward—and become a mentor or sponsor yourself.