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Hi Reader,

I was sitting in my company president's office, heart pounding, bracing for what I was sure would be career-ending news.

For months, I'd been managing a multimillion-dollar contract renegotiation with a high-stakes client. I had done everything right, built the relationship, delivered exceptional results, and earned their trust. But somehow, one senior leader on the client side had started questioning my performance behind closed doors.

My reputation was under attack, and I wasn't even in the room to defend myself.

The Call That Changed Everything

My president looked at me across her desk, and I prepared for the worst. Instead, she smiled.

"The client's president went to bat for you," she said. "He spoke up forcefully in that meeting. Our CEO and senior leadership are completely aligned, you're protected."

I felt the air rush back into my lungs.

Not only did we secure the contract, but I was immediately placed on the leadership fast track and offered an executive MBA sponsorship. All because someone I had never asked for help decided to advocate for me when it mattered most.

That client leader wasn't just a business partner. He had become something far more powerful: my sponsor.

The Difference That Changes Everything

Here's what I learned that day: mentors advise you, but sponsors advocate for you.

A mentor might give you feedback over coffee and help you think through challenges. A sponsor puts their reputation on the line in rooms where you're not present. They speak your name when opportunities arise. They defend you when others question your abilities.

Adam Grant would call this relational capital. It's not just about who you know but also about who knows your work deeply enough to back you without being asked.

Brené Brown might say that moment was built on the foundation of trust and vulnerability. I had shown up consistently, authentically, and with excellence. That created the conditions for someone to step up on my behalf.

Why Your Work Isn't Enough

If you're a high-performing leader, you might believe, like I used to, that strong performance, integrity, and perseverance are enough to fuel your career progression. And while those qualities matter immensely, they're not the whole story.

Today's organizations are complex. Decisions about promotions, projects, and pay happen in rooms where you're not present. Your work might be exceptional, but if no one is speaking up for you in those moments, you're leaving your career to chance.

You need advocates, internal and external, who are willing to speak your name, recommend you for opportunities, and defend your reputation when it's needed most.

The Sponsorship You're Already Building

Here's the beautiful truth: you don't have to explicitly ask someone to be your sponsor. The relationship I had with that client leader grew naturally from consistent value, authentic connection, and mutual respect.

I wasn't consciously building sponsorship, I was just doing excellent work and treating people with genuine care. But as Michael Beckwith might say, it wasn't a coincidence. It was alignment. The energy and values I brought to that relationship created space for reciprocity.

The best sponsorship relationships often emerge when you're focused on giving rather than getting.

Your Sponsorship Ecosystem

Reader, I want you to think about your own career for a moment:

Who knows your work deeply enough to advocate for you?

Have you built authentic relationships, not just transactional ones?

Are you showing up consistently with value and integrity?

If you're not sure, don't panic. Start where you are. Begin by giving what you hope to receive. Be someone else's sponsor. Speak up for others in meetings. Recommend colleagues for opportunities. Build with generosity.

As Keith Ferrazzi reminds us, "The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity."

The Ripple Effect

In my 20+ years of leading and coaching, I've seen this truth again and again: the most successful people aren't just brilliant performers, they're also strategic relationship builders.

They understand that career growth isn't just about individual excellence. It's about creating a network of people who believe in your potential and are willing to open doors, make introductions, and advocate for your success.

When you approach relationships with genuine care and consistent value, sponsorship often follows naturally. And when it does, it can change the entire trajectory of your career, just like it did mine.

Walking This Path Together

If you're ready to explore your own sponsorship ecosystem and build the kind of relationships that fuel long-term success, I'd love to help. Sometimes the most powerful career moves happen not in what you do, but in who believes in what you can become.

Here's to building relationships that matter,

Chelese

P.S. Think about someone in your network who deserves more recognition. Could you be their sponsor this week? Sometimes the best way to attract advocacy is to give it first.

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