Society, Arts & Culture

Career Coach: Mentors Matter, but Women Need Sponsors in High Places

It is clear that having a mentor is advantageous for anyone wanting to move up, and especially for women.

Research has shown that a mentor helps protégés gain career outcomes such as: higher compensation and faster salary growth, greater job and career satisfaction and organizational commitment, and higher expectations for advancement. Mentors do this by providing coaching, challenging assignments, sponsorship, and exposure and visibility. In addition, mentors can provide psychosocial support by serving as role models and providing counseling, acceptance and friendship.