Investing in Sponsorship for Black Professionals

“Today’s diversity and inclusion efforts are largely not working for African-American professionals.” Being Black in Corporate America: An Intersectional Exploration

(Center for Talent Innovation, December 2019)

Research has shown that Blacks and African-American professionals face significantly more challenges in having access to professional development opportunities, career development opportunities and access to senior leaders. There are four critical ingredients to sponsorship for Black and African-American professionals to help retain, advance and ultimately catapult their careers to the next level.

• Exposure

  • Introductions and access to key leaders and expansion of the professional network

• Development

  • Holistic approach to professional training, learning and development, including executive coaching

• Opportunity

  • Internal and external opportunities to gain experience and build new capabilities

• Feedback

  • Ongoing critical and honest performance assessment, with support and tools to evolve

Successful sponsorship programs take time, investment and dedication to prove impactful. Ultimately, success can be measured when you look at metrics such as velocity to promotion, lower attrition rates and increasing of diverse numbers in the upper ranks of executive leadership.

Stay tuned for more advice on what makes for successful sponsorship programs and relationships!