Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor

The New Way to Fast-Track Your Career

By: Sylvia Ann Hewlett

Narrated by: Karen Saltus

Who's pulling for you? Who's got your back? Who's putting your hat in the ring? Odds are this person is not a mentor but a sponsor. Mentors can build your self-esteem and provide a sounding board - but they're not your ticket to the top.

If you're interested in fast-tracking your career, what you need is a sponsor - a senior-level champion who believes in your potential and is willing to advocate for you as you pursue that next raise or promotion.

In this powerful yet practical audiobook, economist and thought leader Sylvia Ann Hewlett - author of 10 critically acclaimed books, including the groundbreaking Off-Ramps and On-Ramps - shows why sponsors are your proven link to success. Mixing solid data with vivid real-life narratives, Hewlett reveals the "two-way street" that makes sponsorship such a strong and mutually beneficial alliance. The seven-step map at the heart of this audiobook allows you to chart your course toward your greatest goals.

Whether you're looking to lead a company or drive a community campaign, Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor will help you forge the relationships that truly have the power to deliver you to your destination.

©2013 Sylvia Ann Hewlett (P)2014 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"Hewlett's book is full of smart advice, backed up by data, about the impact that a senior-level leader who acts as an advocate can have on others." ( Washington Post)

Fantastic book, but problematic audiobook reading

This book is packed with great advice. The audiobook narrator for the most part is fine, but mimes ethnic accents for various interviews/characters in the stories. Ironic, as this book is about professionalism and how to succeed in the workplace, where impersonations of ethnic accents is categorically inappropriate.

Excellent Advice

Engaging, well-crafted, specific advice that anyone can benefit from. It will be worth my time to apply the lessons learned here to my career.

Misleading title, focuses on women and minorities

This was a huge struggle to finish.

I was initially excited about all the stories of powerful women and "professionals of color", until I realized that was *every* example. The data felt misrepresented and often times anything having to do with white males was simply omitted.

In addition, the narrator, while incredible clear, felt better suited for something like a commercial, and the accents were a little distracting. Nothing against her, but didn't help this story.

This was a huge struggle to finish.

I was initially excited about all the stories of powerful women and "professionals of color", until I realized that was *every* example. The data felt misrepresented and often times anything having to do with white males was simply omitted.

In addition, the narrator, while incredible clear, felt better suited for something like a commercial, and the accents were a little distracting. Nothing against her, but didn't help this story.

Empowering

I feel empowered to step out and find sponsors to get me to the top. I would recommend this to any person I wish to sponsor as well to help them get to the top.

interesting concepts backed with good stories!!!

interesting theories backed with good stories and great tips for women especially. see what works for you instead of applying whats said blindly .

Get a sponsor

I must have heard about this concept some time ago because none of this was new to me. my Boss suggested that I read this book. the stories were nice, could have done without the accents. the stories had a bit of useful information, i will go back and answer the questions from the chapters. ive used sponsors for most positions Ive received in life by examining my network and determining if I know somebody who knows somebody. so far so good.

Quick, Clear, Consise and Worth Every Penny

Sylvia Ann Hewlett clarifies the difference between mentor and sponsor while discussing why each are important. Her examples illistrates the neccessity of sponsorship and how to earn it.

Useful and practical advice

Learned a lot. Good performance overall but the decision to act out accents for any British and Indian folks being quoted was offensive and unnecessary.

Game Changing

This is by far one of the best and most impactful books that I have read on ascending in the ranks of corporate America. It inspired me to call my very first sales manager at Xerox Corporation to let him know just how amazing of a SPONSOR and mentor he had to been to me and the other woman on his team.

It's too bad, that I did not realize what was really going on, how I was being singled out for more or what to do with the opportunity. It was my generation that was the first to come into corporate America en masse quite often into sales position. Our mothers wanted a singular thing for us and that was for us to be able to take care of ourselves.

If only this book had been around then. I remember my sales manager giving the 8 women on his team a Book that was groundbreaking in its time entitled "Games mother never taught you corporate gamesmanship for women."

I have already shared this book with several women, and I promise to take this information and share it with as many women and minority's as will listen.

Thank you for writing this book. It will forever change my one on one coaching practice.

THE career development book for women!

A refreshing (and definitely MUST) read for ladies who want to gain advancement in their career and how to leverage on having a sponsor to work out a win-win situation for both the protege and the sponsor.

The examples written by Sylvia were spot on and it opened my mind (and ears) to a whole new world of what I have not done in the past and what I should be doing going forward along with pitfalls to avoid.

Definitely recommending this to women who are feeling they have done all they need to get ahead of others in their career but are still not moving up the way they wanted to.