From Mentorship to Sponsorship - Leveling Up Your Career Growth Ally Actions: Learning Trends & Innovations SIG (Virtual)

Learning Trends & Innovations SIG (Virtual): From Mentorship to Sponsorship - Leveling Up Your Career Growth Ally Actions

In the age of AI, uniquely human skills like advocacy, influence and sponsorship are trending as an essential counterbalance. Join this session to learn why sponsorship is a game-changer for career advancement, yet often overlooked and underutilized in organizations. In this workshop, participants will explore the key distinctions between mentorship and sponsorship, discover why sponsorship is a powerful ally action, understand the role of advocacy in professional growth, and learn how to build and sustain impactful sponsorship relationships. Through practical strategies and actionable insights, attendees will gain the tools to become effective sponsors or protégés, fostering a more equitable workplace and building human-first leadership skills.

Sertrice Shipley is the CEO & Founder of Plan to Action, a culture and inclusion consulting firm and the co-author of Inclusalytics: How Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leaders Use Data to Drive Their Work. Prior to leading Plan To Action, she made significant contributions as Co-Owner & Chief Consulting Officer of Mattingly Solutions. Her dynamic consulting has benefited clients like the National Association of Women Business Owners, Koppers, and American Humane, delivering comprehensive culture solutions ranging from strategic planning to employee listening assessment to learning and development. A respected inclusion and culture thought leader and public speaker, Sertrice has been invited to speak at prominent events like the Society for Human Resource Management, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and various city Chamber events across the United States. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is deeply committed to community service and sits on various boards. Sertrice is located in Raleigh, NC with her husband Abraham and dog Winston.

ATD Capability Model: 

Personal: Collaboration & Leadership, Cultural Awareness & Inclusion

Professional: Career & Leadership Development

Organizational: Talent Strategy & Management, Future Readiness