Mentorship Sponsorship Research Request

Thank you for your interest in the Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business (CWB) curated research report Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Networks: The Power and Value of Professional Connections. Download the full report.

Executive Summary

While the power of professional connections has been harnessed for years, the importance of intentional mentoring, sponsoring, and networking has more recently moved to the forefront for organizations and professionals navigating their careers. These relationships can have a significant impact on the workplace experience and career success of women and underrepresented group.

Mentorship and sponsorship, both formal and informal, have become recognized as a powerful talent development tool among organizations dedicated to moving the needle on gender pipeline, pay, and promotion issues. In developing formal programs, organizations must create a supportive culture and establish structure, ensuring accountability through effective measurement. The greatest impact happens when companies embrace a mentoring culture and there is a deliberate focus on creating opportunities for both formal and informal mentoring throughout the organization.

To navigate these professional networks, individuals need to understand how to identify champions, establish networks, and maintain these critical connections over time.