{"id":4373,"date":"2021-07-27T16:16:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-27T20:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seramount.com\/?p=4373"},"modified":"2025-11-24T13:04:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T18:04:29","slug":"why-sponsorship-programs-are-vital-in-advancing-underrepresented-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seramount.com\/articles\/why-sponsorship-programs-are-vital-in-advancing-underrepresented-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sponsorship Programs Are Vital in Advancing Underrepresented Groups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the goal of creating more diverse workplaces, companies are investing in many approaches to attract and hire a wider pool of employees. However, without investing at least as much in retention and advancement strategies, this process may start to look more like a revolving door where underrepresented groups enter companies, do not envision career success in those spaces and, therefore, leave. It is imperative that employees coming into an organization, and those already within that organization, can see and believe in a clear career path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsorship vs Mentorship<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First, I want to pause and emphasize that it is very important to understand the difference between a mentor and a sponsor. A mentor has a relationship with a mentee where the mentor gives career advice, navigation, and guidance and mentors do not need to be in the same company or area of business as their mentees. A sponsor must have the clout to advance their prot\u00e9g\u00e9\u2019s career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Power of A Sponsor<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The music executive, entrepreneur, and film producer, Clarence Avant, affectionately known as the Black Godfather has mentored many people, from artists, to athletes and politicians, advising them how to negotiate better, prevail over challenges, and the necessity of networks, famously saying, \u201cI don\u2019t have problems. I have friends.\u201d Avant is also an influential sponsor who used his network to move the then unknown junior senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, into a primetime sport at the Democratic National Convention, an event that was integral to Obama\u2019s political success. Just before Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth\u2019s record, Avant marched into the office of the president of Coca-Cola, negotiating a life-changing endorsement deal for Aaron. That is the power of a sponsor who not only recognizes talent but is able to move that talent forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Sponsorship?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An important strategy is an effective sponsorship program, where sponsors not only help prot\u00e9g\u00e9s drive their career vision but also connect prot\u00e9g\u00e9s to high-profile people, assignments, pay increases, and promotions. Through the annual Best Companies for Multicultural Women list, Seramount research found that multicultural women with sponsorship were promoted, received pay increases, and experienced job satisfaction at significantly higher rates than those without sponsorship. The Center for Talent Innovation had similar findings for people of color in general and, according to their research, top talent is not sponsored equally \u2013 white individuals are 63% more likely to have a sponsor than individuals from underrepresented groups. In organizations that are seeking to retain and advance talent from underrepresented groups this should be of particular concern, according to CTI\u2019s findings, employees with sponsors are more likely to be satisfied with their rate of advancement and to remain in the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An effective and equitable sponsorship program is one that is formalized and based on institutional recognition of high performance, talent, and potential. Such programs begin by clearly defining what it means to be high potential and communicating that to employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsorship programs can be designed and implemented in many ways but, for program success, it is critical that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n