Sponsorship is one of the most important influences in one’s leadership advancement, offering a unique blend of mentorship, advocacy, and strategic positioning. It’s also something that happens less frequently and sufficiently for women than for men in organizations.

In this interview, I talk with Lynn B. Miller, Ed.D., who serves as a Leadership Solutions Partner with the Center for Creative Leadership and specializes in women’s leadership development with sponsorship at the forefront of her programming. Miller has over 25 years of experience in management and leadership, previously held Learning and Development roles in technology, airline IT, and a global packaging.

Mentors and sponsors serve different needs in different ways. Sponsorship as an advocacy-driven relationship in which a senior leader actively supports and promotes a junior leader, showcasing their talent, introducing them to key influencers, and endorsing them for career-advancing opportunities. Sponsorship is primarily focused on the leader’s future. Miller notes, “That’s different from mentorship which primarily provides guidance, feedback, and support around current needs experienced by the protégé.”

Miller emphasizes that senior leaders have a powerful impact as their endorsements carry more weight and can open doors that........

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