03/19/2025

Mentors vs. Sponsors

Know the difference between the two

A great mentor is priceless. A great sponsor will make you successful.

While dramatically different, mentors and sponsors are two sides of the same career coin.

Mentors for growth

Ask most successful individuals about early career influences, and they'll point to one or more mentors who offered guidance and wisdom. In my case, several great mentors played key roles in my career and leadership development. They were with me on my journey, helping me understand what leadership means and what effective leadership looks like. They offered perspective, a sense of accountability and reflective support for my mistakes and failures. Most of all, they helped me learn to think bigger and embrace uncertainty as an opportunity.

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