Synopses & Reviews
Whos pulling for you? Whos got your back? Whos putting your hat in the ring? Odds are this person is not a mentor but a
sponsor. Mentors can build your self-esteem and provide a sounding boardbut theyre not your ticket to the top.
If youre interested in fast-tracking your career, what you need is a sponsora senior-level champion who believes in your potential and is willing to advocate for you as you pursue that next raise or promotion.
In this powerful yet practical book, economist and thought leader Sylvia Ann Hewlettauthor of ten critically acclaimed books, including the groundbreaking Off-Ramps and On-Rampsshows why sponsors are your proven link to success. Mixing solid data with vivid real-life narratives, Hewlett reveals the two-way street” that makes sponsorship such a strong and mutually beneficial alliance. The seven-step map at the heart of this book allows you to chart your course toward your greatest goals.
Whether youre looking to lead a company or drive a community campaign, Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor will help you forge the relationships that truly have the power to deliver you to your destination.
Review
Hewletts book is full of smart advice, backed up by data, about the impact that a senior-level leader who acts as an advocate can have on others.”
Washington PostOver the years, Ive certainly had mentors who were generous with their time and kept plentiful boxes of tissues in their offices. Ive had supporters and cheerleaders. And Im grateful for all those whove given me opportunities. But it wasnt until I read about Sylvia Ann Hewletts new research in her book, Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor, that I understood what I had been yearning for all those years was an advocate.” Washington Post
This is an easy-to-read, powerfully written book. It has lots of potent examples, and clear advice on the steps to developing sponsorship.” Globe and Mail
This is a must-read book for anyone looking for substantive
advice on career advancement.” Forbes
Her research, presented, compellingly in her latest book, Forget a Mentor; Find a Sponsor (2013: Harvard Business Review Press)
is not only enlightening, but also practical.” The Huffington Post
Hewett, an economist...shows why sponsors, not mentors, are the proven ticket to the top and why women and minorities need them most.” Irish Times
an eye-opener for ambitious professionals” Chicago Tribune
ADVANCE PRAISE for Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor:
Anne-Marie Slaughter, author, Why Women Still Cant Have It All”
High-potential women need sponsors who will not only provide advice but also actively create opportunities to shine and advance. Hard work and merit are simply not enough.”
Cornel West, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice, Union Theological Seminary
A powerful and urgent book. Sylvia Ann Hewlett shows how women and people of color can win sponsors and take their place at decision-making tables.”
Synopsis
You need more than a mentorTraditional pathways to career progression have all but diminished. Mentors used to be the answer but in todays world, research shows that they are not enough to help you advance.
Sylvia Ann Hewletteconomist, prolific author, and originator of such prominent ideas as off-ramping and on-rampingshows why sponsorship is the new route to success. What makes a sponsor different from a mentor is critical in terms of getting you into the role you covet and deserve.
A sponsor serves as your advocatenot just doling out advice but also offering the powerful backing inside the organization to get you where you want to go. From making important introductions to senior leaders to expanding the perception of what you can offer the organization, sponsors are your personal brand advocates in the workplace and in your industry at large. They inspire, propel, and protectto help you progress.
Combining real examples with practical advice, Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor shows how to build this important professional relationship, position yourself for leadership, and effectively work with your sponsor to achieve career success.
About the Author
Sylvia Ann Hewlett is an economist, president and CEO of the Center for Talent Innovation, a nonprofit think tank where she chairs a Task Force of more than 70 global companies focused on fully realizing the new streams of talent in the global marketplace. She also directs the Gender and Policy Program at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Hewlett is the author of 10 Harvard Business Review articles, 11 critically acclaimed nonfiction booksincluding Off-Ramps and On-Ramps, and Winning the War for Talent in Emerging Marketsand is ranked #11 of the worlds 50 top business thinkers. Her writings have been published in the New York Times and Financial Times, and shes a featured blogger on HBR.org. She has appeared on Oprah, Charlie Rose, and the Today Show. A Kennedy Scholar and graduate of Cambridge University, she earned her PhD in economics at London University.