Mentor vs. Sponsor 

August 16, 2018

When I began my first communications internship at Calgon Corporation, I was assigned a mentor as part of the Inroads Pittsburgh career development program.  My mentor Jeff happened to be African American and head of the company’s IT department.  He would check in on me from time to time. However, I didn’t quite understand why he was assigned to me given that we were in two completely different fields.  I learned later that it was intentionally set up that way as Jeff was there to be a sounding board and to be objective about my success. 

During my Personal Branding workshops, I often ask participants to tell me the difference between a mentor versus a sponsor.  Most individuals don’t know—thinking they are one in the same.  Over my career, I’ve had both mentors and sponsors and to be honest, there is a big difference between the two.  Simply put, mentors give us perspective; sponsors provide us opportunities.   

Mentors act as a sounding board and provide support and guidance, without judgement.  When the going gets tough, they are the ones that offer a shoulder to cry on.  Mentors also offer us objective career and/or personal advice as needed.   

On the other hand, sponsors advocate for us and provide opportunities, not just career advice.  They have the power to propel our careers further. For example, when I was at Johnson & Johnson, I considered two executives my sponsors—Sylvia Weaver and Nancy Walker.  In addition to advocating on my behalf, Sylvia recommended me for a women’s leadership development program which gave me an opportunity to network with other high powered women professionals across the company.  Nancy was responsible for getting me on the Public Affairs Council where I was exposed to all communications vice presidents across the company and ultimately led to my next promotion.   

Over the years, I’ve also had sponsors in my consulting business. For instance, one of my first consulting projects at a major foodservice company was supposed to last three months.  However, because of my sponsor advocating for me, coupled with my work product, I literally consulted with the company for three years.  The same sponsor left the company a few years later and asked me to support his communications efforts at the new company.  The new consulting engagement lasted another two years. 

Most of us have mentors, but it’s the sponsors that can make a significant impact on our careers. The bottom line is sponsors help advance our careers.  They also protect, prepare and push us further.  And, they often have high level contacts when we need them.   

Getting a sponsor should be intentional but it also means you have to make sure you don’t let them down as they are investing in you.  

“Sponsorship can come to you in different ways. You never know who is watching you, so be ‘sponsor-ready’ at all times.”

Millette Granville