Your performance and networking skills are instrumental to securing the best sponsor possible. Learn best practices here! For more information, see http://clarelemortimer.net/the-sponsorship-series-securing-a-career-sponsor/

1. S E C U R I N G A
C A R E E R
S P O N S O R
T H E S P O N S O R S H I P S E R I E S :
B Y C L A R E L E M O R T I M E R

2. W H E N S E A R C H I N G
F O R A S P O N S O R
( O R S P O N S O R S ) ,
Y O U S H O U L D N ’ T
W A S T E T I M E
T A R G E T I N G T H E
W R O N G P E O P L E .
A M E N T O R C A N B E
Y O U R F R I E N D , B U T
A S P O N S O R S H O U L D
B E Y O U R
S T R A T E G I C A L L Y .
R E S E A R C H F R O M
T H E C E N T E R F O R
T A L E N T
I N N O V A T I O N
S H O W S T H A T 4 0 %
O F W O M E N F A I L T O
F I N D A S P O N S O R
W H O C A N D E L I V E R .
M A N Y H I G H -
P O T E N T I A L W O M E N
L O O K F O R
S P O N S O R S W H O
A R E T R U S T E D R O L E
M O D E L S I N S T E A D
O F A U T H O R I T A T I V E
L E A D E R S .

3. In large companies,
you should look
two levels above
you. In smaller
firms, it’s not
impossible for the
founder or part of
their inner circle to
be a viable option.

4. What’s more important than
pinpointing your desired sponsors
is making sure you’re the kind of
employee a leader would want to
sponsor. You don’t always pick
your sponsor — sometimes your
sponsor picks you. However, there
are ways to swing the odds in
your favor.

5. SPONSORSHIP
IS EARNED
You can’t be a subpar
employee and expect to
earn a high-quality
sponsor. Your sponsor is
essentially risking their
own reputation by
advocating for you,
meaning you need to be
a stellar employee
before and after you
secure a sponsor.

6. A great way for your
value to be recognized is
by going above and
beyond. Join special
committees or projects
that highlight what
you’re capable of. If
you’ll be working
directly with someone
you’ve identified as a
good potential sponsor,
it’s an especially
effective way to
showcase your skills.

7. Don't Be Your
Organization's
Best-Kept Secret
Your leaders might not
be aware of all the great
work you’ve done, so
don’t be afraid to tell
them. It can be as
simple as having a
friendly conversation by
the water cooler. Ask
how their day is going,
then casually highlight
some of your recent
achievements. Always
have an elevator speech
ready that highlights
your value.

8. You should also clearly
identify your career goals
and share those goals
with the leaders around
you. If your managers
and mentors know your
goals and abilities, they
could point you in the
right direction of a
relevant sponsor, or even
sponsor you themselves.

9. You never know who is watching you
and your work, so always be prepared
for an opportunity with influential
sponsors. Relationships are cultivated
over time, so a sponsorship may
develop organically without an
explicit conversation. It’s just a
natural extension of a strong
professional relationship.

10. T H A N K S F O R
V I E W I N G !
G o t o C l a r e l e M o r t i m e r . n e t f o r m o r e i n f o , o r f o l l o w
m e o n s o c i a l m e d i a t o s t a r t a c o n v e r s a t i o n !