In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher tackle one of the most misunderstood levers of career progression: sponsorship.
Inspired by a talk from Carla Harris, this conversation draws a sharp line between mentors and sponsors. Mentors advise. Sponsors advocate. And confusing the two is one of the reasons capable women stall.
Mel and Michelle break down what sponsorship actually looks like in practice, why it is harder to secure than mentoring, and what women need to pay attention to if they want someone in the room when decisions about progression, stretch roles, and visibility are being made.
This is not about asking someone senior to “be your sponsor.” It’s about understanding power, performance, trust, and timing, and positioning yourself so advocacy makes sense to the person whose voice carries weight.
What this episode covers
The difference between mentoring and sponsorship, and why it matters
Why sponsors risk their reputation when they back you
What sponsors look for before they put their name behind someone
How performance, judgment, and reliability factor into advocacy
The signals women often miss when sponsorship is (or isn’t) possible
Key leadership ideas
Advancement is influenced by who speaks for you, not just how well you perform
Sponsorship follows credibility, not potential alone
Advocacy is earned through consistent delivery and sound judgment
Who this episode is for
Women who are doing strong work but aren’t moving forward
Leaders who want to understand how sponsorship really works
Anyone relying on mentoring alone and wondering why it isn’t enough
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