How to Build Mentorship and Sponsorship Relationships

I went from SDR to Sr. Manager running pricing in 4 years. Every new job and promotion came from the help of mentors. My mentors reviewed my content to help me get clearer with my writing and helped me think through potential objections or questions from leaders on projects. One of my mentors is why I pivoted from my role in product marketing to running the competitive function at Grafana Labs - she suggested it when I wasn’t even in the room. 3 types of mentors everyone should have: a mentor, thought partner, and sponsor (separate from your board of directors). Mentor: At or above your level (similar function) This is someone who knows your discipline or is in the function you want to be in next You spend time knowledge sharing what projects they work on, offer to give feedback, and learn how they operate Take these lessons, apply them to your own role and share the feedback on how it went with your mentor Thought partner: At or above your level (same function) This is someone who shares the same ambitions or interests as you that you can continuously bounce ideas off of. This could be someone on your team or in a different department or even a different company. Knowledge share with these folks, review work together, brainstorm together. These are people who complement your weaknesses and vice versa. Sponsor: At the highest level at your company This is typically a VP or C-suite. Executives at companies are effectively resource allocators. When you are working on projects that affect the business, you will work with execs to get resources from a team or multiple teams. Finding an executive who can help sponsor you by unblocking you, helping secure resources, or promoting your work to get you on what’s most important for the business is key. You should have more than one sponsor if possible across functions. Having different types of mentors also gives you practice in tailoring the altitude of your conversation and switching context. E.g. if your thought partner is at a different company than you, practice sharing just the right amount of context so they can help. For weekly tips like this straight to your inbox you can find my newsletter in the first comment #negotiation #theopsguy

Tried finding a mentor and got crickets? It's probably not you, it's the system. We've all heard the hype – find a great mentor, change your life. But the reality? Finding someone who's the right fit, available, and truly invested in you can feel like searching for a unicorn. The problem is, we're often sold this idea that mentorship is about finding that one perfect, all-knowing person to guide our journey. But what if there was a better way? A way that empowers you and puts your growth in the driver's seat? 🔑 Forget the 'perfect' mentor. Focus on the dynamic. Instead of chasing an elusive mentor ideal, shift your focus to building a mentorship dynamic. This means finding people slightly ahead of you on your chosen path, who are willing to share their knowledge and insights. 🔑 Why this speeds up your growth: ▶ Targeted knowledge: They've recently faced the challenges you're facing now. Their solutions are fresh and relevant. ▶ Mutual benefit: As a mentee, you offer value too! Your questions and fresh perspective make them rethink their own process. ▶ Less intimidating: They're closer to your level, making it easier to connect and be honest about your challenges. 🤔 So, how do you actually make this happen? 🔑 Seek out the sharers: Look for people doing podcasts, writing articles, or being active in their industry community. These are the people genuinely interested in passing knowledge forward. The Mentorship Cycle: 1. Reach out with a specific question demonstrating you value their expertise. 2. Listen intently, then TAKE ACTION on their advice. 3. Report back! Share your results, whether successful or not. This shows respect and helps them refine their advice. 4. Ask a new, deeper question. Rinse and repeat! This is growth on your terms. By building a reciprocal mentorship dynamic, you take control. You learn proactively, gain confidence from action, and create mutually beneficial relationships that can evolve over time. 🍿 The creative boost you didn't see coming 🍿 This approach isn't just about knowledge transfer or career growth – it's a catalyst for your creativity! Here's why: Busting out of your bubble: Connecting with someone outside your usual circle exposes you to new ways of thinking, sparking fresh ideas. Action fuels inspiration: Taking action on their advice, then seeing results, reinforces your belief in your own ability to create and problem-solve. Accountability breeds output: Knowing you'll be reporting back creates a healthy pressure to actually execute on those ideas, not just let them linger. This mentorship dynamic isn't a replacement for those times when you might need in-depth guidance from a seasoned expert. But for day-to-day growth, overcoming creative hurdles, and building momentum, it's a surprisingly powerful tool. 🙅♂️ Tip of the day: Tag someone that you want to build a mentor relationship with in the comments.

I went from a newbie PMM to a Director in 3 years. This is the most important thing I did that helped me get there 👇 I built my career team. Specifically, I had four kinds of people in my career team: 1️⃣ Thought partners - These are peers I can bounce ideas with. Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to meet awesome peers like Brian Lee, who not only was my confidant but also challenged my thinking in all the right ways. 2️⃣ Sponsors - It’s nice to have many people who are your peers, but you need people in positions of power too. Sponsors are generally senior to you and have the power to give you more opportunities. These could be the head of sales, the head of product, your boss, or more. I focused on building genuine relationships and adding value to sponsors, which helped me get exposure to bigger/better projects and opportunities. 3️⃣ Mentors - Mentors are people who are more senior to you and can give you advice and inspire you. Most of my mentors are outside of the companies I worked for, and they helped me think through sticky situations and provided insights since they have walked the walk. Thank you, Alex Henthorn-Iwane, for being awesome! 4️⃣ Coaches - Coaches are dedicated professionals who help you reach your goals in a structured fashion. I benefited significantly from coaches and learned how to advocate for myself, how to earn trust and be a better leader - which fundamentally changed my mindset and got me to where I needed to go faster. In summary, our career success is positively correlated with the amount of people who want to help us succeed. That’s why, to reach your goals faster, you need a team. ❓ Who has been helpful to you in your career in 2023, and what additional relationships will you build and add to your career team in 2024? #productmarketing #careergrowth #leadership #marketing #careercoach

Finding a good design mentor is probably one of the most important things I've been able to do in my life and career—and luckily I was able to do it three times! Here are some things that helped me get my foot in the door in regards to creating real, meaningful connections with people I respect and admire. 1. Be genuine. People who are skilled and have experienced constantly get bombarded with requests for mentorship. You're not the only person that had this brilliant idea to learn from the best. 2. Do your research. Spend some time getting to know the person's work and presence. Have they given talks or seminars? Do they have a personal design love that they speak about? Show that you've invested some time to getting to know them before you ask them to do the same. 3. Skip the transactional approach. Don't make your first interaction about "looking for advice or mentorship". I've found the most success came from a place of genuine curiosity and intent to build a friendship/relationship, no strings attached. Remember, it's a lot easier to ask your friends for insight than it is a stranger. 4. Incentivize it a bit! Not that you're a boring person or uninteresting by any means, but realize people have a limited amount of time and offer up something of value, even if small. Offer up some coffee or something to show that you value the other person's time. 5. Most importantly—have good work. You don't need to be the best in the world, but one thing you have control over is the perceived value and effort of the work you create. Make your portfolio polished, put together beautiful imagery to your case studies and easy to digest. If your work is good, it'll always open up more opportunities. Despite this, it might be still a difficult process. You probably will get ghosted, but don't be discouraged. There are good people out there who genuinely love design and love discovering others who do. #design #career #work #designer #productdesign

As I reflect on my 10+ year career in commercial real estate working for top firms CBRE and JLL alongside my recent entrepreneurial journey building Her Workplace, I can't help but think about the advice I would give my 20-year-old self. 💡 Embrace Learning: In your 20s, it's so easy to become laser-focused on your job and building your career. But remember continuous learning helps you evolve, be it through formal education, online courses, or simply by seeking out new challenges in your role. It wasn't until I finished my MBA at both Columbia Business School and London Business School that I realized my interest in entrepreneurship. The more you learn, the more you grow. 🤝 Networking Matters: Building a professional network is crucial. Don't underestimate the power of meaningful connections. Attend industry events, engage on platforms like LinkedIn, and always be open to meeting new people. Midway through my career, I met Christina C. at CBRE. Ever since we've become good friends and have supported each other throughout our career journeys. Now she's a member and supporter of Her Workplace. Your network can open doors you never knew existed. 💫 Stay Adaptable: Pursue your passions and interests, but don't be afraid to pivot. Your career path is not a straight line. Be open to new opportunities and don't let fear of change hold you back. I was so afraid to leave corporate. It took me 2 years to figure out whether I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. It's okay to give yourself time during a transition. My experience in real estate allowed me to develop the knowledge and expertise to build the coworking arm of Her Workplace, and to start my own brokerage firm Her Space, where I support female-led companies on their real estate strategies. 👭 Mentorship & Sponsorship is Invaluable: Seek mentors and sponsors both inside and outside of your organization. Guidance from experienced individuals can be helpful, especially when navigating internal politics or undergoing changes within your career. Also, pay it forward and advocate for others. I've built relationships with so many meaningful women throughout my career in the real estate industry such as Kayma E. Liburd, Katie Schiavi, WELL AP, Molly Glasgow, Allison Buck, Georgina Cook, and Damla Barrett. We've been there for each other through the ups and downs, and I know I can rely on them for support. ⚖ Work-Life Balance is Essential: Your career is important, but so is your well-being. Don't neglect your physical and mental health. I used to wake up at 4 am every day in my 20s to work out and get to the office by 7 am. It took a toll on my mental health. At the time, my career coach Ellen East taught me success is not defined by how many hours you put in or how much time you're at the office. It's about showing up as your best self every day, so you can perform to the best of your ability. #careertips #professionaldevelopment #careerresources

Networking changed my career for the better! I haven’t always been the best at keeping relationships, especially after leaving a role. However, I’ve been networking within my industry for the past several years, and it has changed everything. First, I began to attend events in my field. I joined the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches to continue learning more about resume writing and career coaching. Over time, I began to get to know my fellow peers. I started to reach out and respond to those who contacted me. Sometimes, we messaged on LinkedIn and that was it. Other times, I had Zoom calls. And in a special case, I set up bi-weekly Happy Hours to talk business and share ideas. So why network? - Insights and Knowledge: Interacting with professionals in your field can provide a wealth of knowledge and different perspectives. I’ve learned so much from Denise Bitler, MRW, CPRW, CDBS, CICNC, CIC, Mark Misiano, MBA, CPRW, CDCS, and John Suarez, MBA, CPRW. - Mentorship: Networking can connect you with potential mentors who can guide your career development. Angie M. Callen, CPRW, CPCC became a friend and mentor. We discuss business strategy and how to bring more value to my clients. I’ve evolved countless times since meeting Angie. - Career Opportunities: Often, new job prospects come from within your network. It’s about being in the right place with the right connections. Because I was vocal during webinars, Margaret Phares asked me to lead a webinar series for PARWCC. From there, I later landed a role on the leadership team, developing and administering the CPRW (a resume writing exam). How can you network effectively? - Be Genuine: Authenticity in networking creates meaningful connections. Don’t wait to be laid off from your role. Make connections constantly. - Attend Professional Events: Conferences, seminars, and industry meet-ups are great places to meet like-minded professionals. - Engage in Online Forums: Platforms like LinkedIn groups, industry-specific forums, and virtual webinars offer global connections. - Offer Value: Networking is a two-way street. Think about how you can help others as well. Let’s discuss: How has networking influenced your career? Do you have any tips for effective networking? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below! 💬 #professionalnetworking #careerdevelopment #careergrowth #networkingtips

Friends, I've frequently been posed a fascinating question about careers recently. To benefit everyone, I'd like to share my perspective The recurring query goes something like this: "Amir, what do you believe is the cornerstone of a successful career, something you might not have been aware of at the outset?" In my academic years – high school, college, and graduate school – I believed success pivoted on top grades, class rankings, or even intra-class networking. Wrong In the nascent stages of my career, I was under the impression that success equated to sheer hard work. Incorrect again Mid-career, I leaned towards factors like presentation skills, professional prowess, and a tendency to claim credit for achievements. Still off the mark Later, I surmised it was about forging numerous professional relationships and mastering workplace networking. Again, not the essence While the above elements have their merits, they're often necessary but not sufficient Reflecting on my life experiences, the business literature I've delved into, my formal education, and observations of varied career trajectories, I discerned a pattern among the truly successful. These individuals: *Efficiently pinpoint a few advocates (1-3) in each organization *Ensure these advocates will ardently support their work *Persuade these champions to back them consistently *Identify and align with individuals known for their extensive networking prowess and influential career reach and willingness to use it for others *Distinguish between genuine supporters and talkers, not wasting professional time (social time is different) on those relationships *Persistently replicate this across different organizations and departments Usually, the success of many can be traced back to a handful of people – mentors, advisors, or managers – who fervently vouched for them. Those advocated for might not necessarily represent the most talented or affable, but successful individuals master the art of building and nurturing these relationships nonetheless It's imperative to discern genuine supporters from fair-weather allies. Many seemingly promising relationships end up as fleeting encounters with little long-term value. The art of this discernment blends judgment, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to one's authentic self Lastly, the capacity for repeated relationship-building is crucial. As many professional connections reset over time, it becomes essential to continuously win over a few influential allies at every phase. Over the span of a career, these few pivotal relationships can provide an unshakable foundation, acting like a resilient spider web that multiplies in strength and reach People who seem to float from opportunity to opportunity are often seen as being very lucky or fortunate. They are for having that fate. But mastery of the starred points above, supported by other traits and a lot of effort, is what really makes such people appear lucky

Angling for that next promotion? Most of the high achievers I coach over-index on solo strategies to get ahead: taking all the classes, accepting every assignment, working crazy hours to prove their dedication. That stuff can be helpful, but what they typically deprioritize (or avoid like the plague) is the interpersonal piece of the puzzle: building relationships and communication channels for mutual support and growth. Here are some often-neglected interpersonal approaches to lay the foundation for your next role: -Proactively seek feedback: Request input from your superiors and incorporate feedback to enhance your performance. Most people don’t know how to give effective feedback, so be specific about what you’re seeking and make it easy for them to give it to you. -Keep people in the loop: Clearly articulate your ideas, share progress updates, and communicate your achievements. While you may feel your accomplishments should speak for themselves, most people are too busy to be paying much attention. Expect to have to champion your results to get them on others’ radar. -Build a strong network: Cultivate relationships across the board, be it peer-to-peer, superiors, and industry influencers, to expand your opportunities. This isn’t sleazy schmoozing; seek to show up authentically, add value, and prepare to invest in these relationships for the sake of the relationships themselves. Any professional growth that might result is just the cherry on top. -Invite a mentor: Find someone who can provide guidance and support and advocate for your professional growth - then explicitly invite them to mentor you. Trying to go it alone is an overused and limiting strategy for many high achieving ICs, and a lot of folks point to a “mentor” who doesn’t even know they’ve been designated as such. TLDR: By seeking feedback, communicating effectively, building a strong network, and seeking mentorship, you’ll build a strong foundation for growth ahead (and probably make some great new friends along the way.) #leadership #growth #learning #development #relationships #peopleskills #coaching