Why are there still so few women in the C-suite in top companies across the world? One key reason is that, though men move up the corporate ladder with seeming ease, women get stuck in middle management, in jobs without significant budgets, authority, staff or profit and loss responsibilities. Men advance more because more men are recommended for promotions or high-profile projects by more senior leaders, and women, are not, or at least not nearly as often.

One powerful strategy to move women forward more rapidly, is to make sure women benefit from this deliberate advocacy too, also known as sponsorships. This is where a more senior person actively and intentionally recommends a particular woman for a specific role higher up in the organization, or for a key assignment. It happens when she is or is not in the room – and even when she does not even know about that specific opportunity. The sponsor praises her skills in meetings where she is (and is not) present, advocating for her career advancement, talent and potential.

Read more at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmichelson2/2023/05/31/how-to-advance-womens-careers-with-sponsorships/?sh=2c9df5f6738e