At The Orenda Collective, we know the value of support networks. When we share resources, access to opportunities, and personal experiences, we empower others – leading to more access, success, and, hopefully – a shift in focus from antiquated ideals to progressive forward thinking!
Support networks are vital for women helping other women achieve their dreams, reach new heights, and close the pay gap! As we near the end of Women’s Month, I urge you to keep this supportive attitude top of mind and hold the door open for the women behind you.
Our collective, Founder and CEO, LaKendria Robinson, would not be where we are today if not for the many lessons our support networks have taught us. Today, we want to touch on two of them: mentorship and sponsorship.
Mentorship
What is a “Mentor?”
- A mentor is a trusted advisor to another professional who offers guidance,
support, and career advice to help another professional advance in their career.
- A mentor also gives you advice on building your network, pointers on navigating corporate America, handling professional nuisances, etc., to help you be a better businessperson, leader, and advocate for yourself and others.
- While typically, a mentor belongs to the same industry, a mentor’s business acumen and expertise transcend a specific field. This means they can be someone inside your organization, outside your organization, or even outside your industry.
LaKendria is super vocal about how her mentors helped shape her into the woman (and businesswoman) she is today. Specifically, she credits them for sharpening her leadership and communication skills, negotiation tactics, and community-building expertise and teaching her skills no one had shown her before.
What’s a soft skill, you ask? Well, for starters, they’re anything but “soft.” They’re more like power skills. They’re the interpersonal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. They include critical thinking, problem-solving, public speaking, professional writing, teamwork, digital literacy, leadership, professional attitude, work ethic, career management, etc.
Mentors can provide insight into navigating challenging situations with grace and teach you ways to avoid professional landmines. All this gives their mentees an edge, setting them up for success—with integrity!
As women, especially women of color, enter white, male-dominated industries, these power skills make all the difference and empower us to control how we are perceived.
Sponsorship
What is a “Sponsor?”
- A sponsor is someone who advocates for you for professional advancement and makes sure your name is floated to other decision-makers when career advancement opportunities become available.
- A sponsor will also likely throw your name in the hat for additional compensation (raises, bonuses, etc.) and responsibilities/promotions so you can showcase your skills.
While LaKendria gushes about the effects having a mentor has had on her, she has had fewer than a dozen sponsors throughout her career. The main reason is the risk for the sponsor involved. Mentors may help you network, but they mainly offer guidance. On the other hand, sponsors will actively include you in their professional network. A sponsor puts their reputation, word, and social capital on the line to ensure you have the opportunity to succeed. This comes with some risks.
LaKendria credits her sponsors for opening doors in her career. Their support got her into rooms that others could only dream of, why she has been able to impact the minority business community, and why she had held some of the most coveted DEI positions in Tampa even before it was a thing. Were it not for the influence of her sponsors and their willingness to bring up LaKendria’s name to decision-makers, she may have been overlooked.
How can you get involved?
From seasoned professionals to people at the beginning of their careers, everybody can benefit from connecting with her professional community! Whether you realize it or not, your experience may be just what’s needed to usher in the next generation of leaders in your field!
White women in leadership roles, especially, what can you do to help women of color ascend to greater heights? Use your influence to implement DEI initiatives in your company! When it comes to DEI strategy (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), equity refers to processes that ensure fair access to professional opportunities—leading to, for example, the guarantee that candidates with names like DeAndre and Kiyana have the same options as candidates named Michael and Emma.
While hard work and follow-through are necessary for success, having supporters scream your name to the rooftops, and open the right doors, will make all the difference.
The very definition of our name, Orenda, means that each of us has the inherent power to change our lives, that of others, and the world around us! We have everything we need to make a difference and benefit others through sponsorship and mentorship relationships. Get involved – on either side of the equation – today!
The Orenda Collective actively challenges organizations and individuals to view their community through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive lens and deliver innovative solutions that live on in perpetuity. Contact us today to learn more about The Orenda Collective and our services.
