The Importance of Mentoring and Sponsorship in Women's Career Development

摘要

Addressing women's ability to rise within the ranks of management-or the likelihood thereof-the authors looked closely at mentoring and sponsoring: their definitions, their overlapping roles, and their relevance to advancement. After developing 12 research questions, they assembled two focus groups from community and business leaders in the Chattanooga, TN, area to gather "real world" opinions. The 16 women involved aired the pros and cons of having or being a mentor and of actively sponsoring other women for advancement. The consensus? Both activities are generally positive for women and beneficial to their organizations, but mentors and sponsors should be aware of potential risks.