Ever catch yourself asking, “Where do I find a mentor or sponsor?” It’s a totally fair question—but here’s the twist: they’re not exactly hiding in aisle five between the notebooks and networking tips. These kinds of relationships aren’t something you stumble upon—they’re something you grow. The best mentor or sponsor? They usually start off as someone you simply clicked with, and from there, it builds into something meaningful over time.
Start with hello
To grow the kind of relationships that evolve into mentorship or sponsorship, it starts with something simple: meeting people.
Sometimes that happens on an obvious stage—a career fair, a networking happy hour, a formal matching program. Other times it’s unscripted and organic: the teammate across the hall, the person on the yoga mat next to you, the stranger who grabs coffee at the same time you do every morning.
You might think, “Sure, but those are just people I could become friends with—does that count as a professional network?”
Absolutely. What if you started thinking of your network as friends with a purpose? Networking isn’t about collecting business cards or perfecting a sales pitch—it’s about building your real-life playlist. You’re finding people you’re in tune with—those who inspire you, connect with you, and feel excited to support. And when you approach it that way, meaningful relationships grow.
Put Yourself in the Mix
And here’s where it deepens: building your network is just step one. The real magic happens when you actually show up in it.
That means being open about who you are, what you’re working on, and where you could use support. When you share both your strengths and your struggles, you give people a way to connect more deeply and to actually help. Your teammate can’t offer thoughtful feedback if they don’t know what you’re wrestling with or that you’re open to hearing it.
Your future is already in the room. Say hi!
From Friendly Hellos to Career Game-Changers
As you spend time together, some of those friendly connections naturally level up.
Maybe a coffee-line acquaintance becomes the person you trust for straight-shooting feedback on a project—that’s a shift from friend to guide.
Or maybe that same friend never gives formal advice, but one day they hear about an opportunity and say, “I know exactly who you need.” In that instant, they become a champion.
So what happens when those connections deepen even further? That’s when mentors and sponsors enter the picture. Let’s break down the difference:
- A mentor is a guide—someone who shares their experience to help you navigate your own path. Think of mentoring like having a personal GPS: they won’t drive for you, but they can help you make better decisions, avoid detours, and move forward with more clarity.
- A sponsor is a champion—someone who uses their influence and credibility to advocate for you. Sponsorship is like having someone share your content with a new audience. It’s someone saying, “You need to know her,” in a room you’re not even in.
But Remember: You’ve Got to Give to Receive
A GPS can’t guide you if you never punch in a destination.
No one can share a post you never create.
Likewise, mentors and sponsors can’t step in if you’re not putting your goals, work, and curiosity out there. When you do, you not only attract friends, guides, and champions—you start becoming one for others.
Your future is already in the room. Say hi!
Quick guide:
| What it’s like | What it does | How it shows up | |
| Networking | Your real-life playlist | Sparks connections, swap ideas, offers support | Friends you vibe with, coffee-line connections |
| Mentoring | A personal GPS | Share routes, offer perspective, guide growth | Guides who give feedback and help navigate challenges |
| Sponsoring | Getting shared and reposted | Use reputation to vouch for you and open doors | Champions who recommend you in rooms you’re not in. |
Ready to keep building relationships and sharpening your leadership skills? Forté’s professional development sources are designed to help you do exactly that. From live virtual sessions with top executives to an on-demand library packed with insights, there’s something for every stage of your journey.
Explore our Professional Development page and invest in you.
