Mentors vs. Sponsors: One Guides You, the Other Opens the Door
Climbing the career ladder can sometimes feel like playing an escape room with no clues—frustrating, confusing, and full of people yelling “just network more!” But what does that even mean? Everyone swears by mentorship, but how exactly do you find a mentor? Can your best friend count? What about that one professor who actually answers emails?
We hear a lot about the importance of mentorship—having someone to offer advice, share lessons learned, and help you navigate professional challenges. And yes, mentorship is valuable. But here’s the thing: mentorship alone won’t always get you in the room. That’s where sponsorship comes in.
Mentors Guide You, Sponsors Get You Through the Door
Most people think they need a mentor to get ahead—and they’re not wrong. A good mentor can provide guidance, offer feedback, and help you think strategically about your career. But mentors typically operate from the sidelines. They advise, they support, they encourage. What they don’t always do? Take action on your behalf.
Sponsors, on the other hand, don’t just talk about your potential—they put their name behind it. A sponsor is someone with influence in your field who actively helps you advance by advocating for you in rooms you’re not in yet, opening doors to new opportunities, and using their credibility to elevate your career.
Building Your Career Crew: Mentors vs. Sponsors
When I work with professionals, I encourage them to stop thinking about mentorship as the end goal and start focusing on building a Career Crew—a network of people who each play a different role in their success. Here’s the breakdown:
Colleagues (Foundation Level) – These are your hype people. Friends, family, and peers who may not have career connections but will absolutely gas you up before a big interview. They’re there for emotional support, which is valuable—but they can’t provide access.
Mentors (Middle Level) – These are the trusted guides. They offer career advice, help you navigate challenges, and share insights based on their experience. They advise you, but they may not have the power (or inclination) to actively create opportunities for you.
Sponsors (Top Level) – These are the door openers. They’re in the rooms where decisions are made and bring up your name when you’re not there. A sponsor will advocate for you, recommend you for key projects, and push you toward the opportunities that truly move your career forward.
Do You Have a Sponsor?
Many professionals—especially women and people of color—get stuck at the mentorship stage. They have plenty of people giving them great advice, but no one actively vouching for them when it matters. Sponsorship is what takes mentorship to the next level. It’s the difference between getting great career tips and getting the promotion.
So ask yourself: Who in your network is opening doors for you? If the answer is no one, it might be time to shift your focus from finding another mentor to securing a sponsor. Because at the end of the day, as the saying goes, it’s not just what you know—it’s who knows you and is willing to bet on you.
