Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor

11

Distrust

Ron, an accountant with more than fifteen years’ experience, felt he’d finally gotten his career break when he was rotated into the New York headquarters of his global financial consulting firm. An energetic man who prided himself on his strategic approach to high-profile cases, Ron was excited to join the team and fired up to deliver all he could for the executive who’d brought him to headquarters.

In the two years since that move, however, Ron has lost traction and momentum, largely because his sponsor left for another division. He’s worked on just three projects, none of them client-facing. “The partners are not familiar with me and with my work quality,” says Ron. “They’re not about to take a chance on someone they don’t know.” ...