What We Still Misunderstand About Mentorship and Sponsorship

What We Still Misunderstand About Mentorship and Sponsorship

Author: Harvard Business Review November 15, 2022 Duration: 27:42
Companies offer sponsorship programs to help a more diverse group of high performers and future leaders advance. But the efforts can often misfire. Herminia Ibarra, professor at London Business School, says that’s because these arranged developmental relationships can lack authenticity and meaningful paths for action. She explains the key distinctions of mentorship and sponsorship and recommends that companies focus on two vital qualities: public advocacy and relational authenticity. Ibarra wrote the HBR article “How to Do Sponsorship Right.”

Each week, the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review sits down with experts whose ideas are shaping the world of work. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a conversation focused on practical insights for leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs navigating real challenges. You'll hear from scholars, CEOs, and innovators dissecting topics across management, marketing, and organizational strategy, translating complex research into actionable advice. The discussions get into the nuances of building effective teams, driving growth, making strategic decisions, and understanding the forces transforming industries. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to the forefront of business thinking, a resource for anyone looking to sharpen their skills and lead more effectively. The consistent, in-depth dialogue provides a valuable perspective that goes beyond headlines, offering a deeper understanding of how to succeed in a competitive landscape. It's a direct line to the ideas that matter, presented through thoughtful conversation designed to provoke reflection and inspire change in your own professional approach.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

HBR IdeaCast
Podcast Episodes
There Still Aren’t Enough “Good Jobs” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:05
Companies around the world are struggling to fill open positions, while millions of unemployed people look for work. What's going on? Zeynep Ton, professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, says that organizations n…
Gaslighting at Work—and What to Do About It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:17
Mita Mallick, head of inclusion, equity, and impact at the firm Carta, says gaslighting at the office is more common than many people realize. That's when a manager or coworker engages in behavior where one thing happens…
How to Use All Your Vacation — And Really Unplug [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:58
When was the last time you really took a sustained break from work? No emails. No calls. No taking care of that one little thing. For most of us — particularly in the United States -- it's been too long. As we head into…
Why the Highest Paying Jobs So Rarely Go to Women [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:31
Companies pay disproportionately high salaries to CEOs and other high-powered professionals willing to live and breathe their jobs, on-call 24/7, ready to pick up and travel. It's a phenomenon Harvard historian and econo…
In a New Role? Here’s How to Hit the Ground Running [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:22
Rob Cross, management professor at Babson College, says people are changing jobs more than ever and too often falling short when they do. Surveys show nearly half of people promoted within their own companies are underpe…
The Future of Work Is Projects—So You’ve Got to Get Them Right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:56
Companies of every size in every industry and part of the world are basing more of their work around projects. And yet research shows that nearly two-thirds of those efforts fail. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, who has studied…
Anti-Bias Policies That Really Work in Customer Service [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:24
Alexandra Feldberg and Tami Kim, assistant professors at Harvard Business School and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, respectively, say companies are overlooking an important place to root out bias:…
Find Focus in a Chaotic World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:10
If you're feeling distracted, mentally fogged, and unable to pay attention to (or focus on if attention is in hed) the task at hand, you're not alone. The human brain is highly susceptible to often unproductive mind-wand…
Algorithms Won’t Solve All Your Pricing Problems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
Marco Bertini, marketing professor at Esade Business School, says more and more companies are turning to pricing algorithms to maximize profits. But many are unaware of a big downside. The constant price shifts can hurt…