Why sponsoring others gets you promoted faster

Last week, I was at the TechWomen100 award ceremony, surrounded by accomplished women in tech.

One of the speakers dropped this line: “Keep the ladder down and bring someone with you.”

Everyone nodded. It’s a beautiful sentiment. But then I looked around and wondered - how many of us actually do it?

Here’s what nobody tells you about sponsoring other women: It’s not charity work. It’s one of the smartest career moves you can make.

The numbers that shocked me

I did some research into this and stumbled on this research from the Center for Talent Innovation.

When you sponsor someone:

• As a senior leader? You’re 53% more likely to get promoted yourself

• Just starting out? Your chances of landing a stretch assignment jump by 167%

Yes, you read that right. One hundred and sixty-seven percent.

Why sponsoring someone accelerates your career

I once brought someone into my innovation team who had zero experience in the field. Everyone else had overlooked them.

But I saw something different - hunger to learn and prove themselves.

I gave them a project to drive forward. What happened next? They practically lived and breathed that project. They were so motivated to learn from me, they delivered almost double what I expected.

My manager noticed. “Exceptional leadership” showed up in my review.

But here’s what surprised me most.

Later, when I became Chief of Staff and needed to create strategic alignment between departments, guess who became invaluable?

The person I sponsored had built relationships across the company. They helped me understand what different teams were really thinking - the stuff that doesn’t come up in formal meetings. They also advocated for my initiatives in every department. That grassroots support made all the difference.

That’s the hidden power of sponsorship. You’re not just helping someone else climb - you’re building your own network of advocates.

The three unexpected benefits I discovered

1. You become a talent magnet
   Once word got out that I’d helped that team member advance, other high-potential people started seeking me out, asking if they could join the team. This accelerated our projects.

2. Your ideas spread faster
   When you have protégés in different departments, your initiatives gain momentum. They become your ambassadors, translating your vision into action.

3. You’re seen as a true leader
   Executives notice who develops talent. It signals you’re thinking beyond yourself - exactly what they look for in senior leadership material.
   
   

But here’s the catch...

Not everyone deserves your sponsorship.

How to choose your first protégé (= the person you sponsor)

Start by watching for these signs:

• They take initiative without being asked

• They ask thoughtful questions, not just “what should I do?”

• They follow through on small commitments

Skills can be taught. Character can’t.

Your 4-step sponsorship starter plan

1. Test the waters
   Ask someone with potential to research something for your next project. Low risk, high learning opportunity for both of you.

2. Build gradually
   Next time, let them present one slide in your meeting. Then let them co-lead a section.

3. Provide three things

   • Hands-on advice (not vague “be more strategic” feedback)

   • Real examples (let them shadow you in important meetings)

   • Air cover (when they stumble, help them recover)

4. Make it mutual
   Be clear: “I’m investing in you because I believe in your potential. In return, I need your commitment to this project and honest feedback on how I can improve as a leader.”
   
   

Your action step this week

Look around your department. Which person is consistently contributing great ideas but getting talked over?

Who’s doing excellent work but somehow invisible when recognition time comes?

That’s your person.

Start small. Ask her to help with research on your next project. See how she responds.

Because here’s what I know for sure: The most successful women I meet aren’t the ones who climbed fastest. They’re the ones who brought other women up with them.

And the beautiful irony? That’s exactly what accelerates their own rise.

Ready to find your first protégé?