Over-Mentored, Under-Sponsored

Advice is good. Access is better.

Some lessons come softly. This one didn’t.

For a long time in life, entrepreneurship and corporate, I lived in the space between being guided and being given a real chance.

When running your own business, people loved to give me advice. They’d tell me what I “should” be doing, how I “could” grow faster, or what I “might” want to change. The intention was good, but the impact was limited because advice without access doesn’t move the needle.

Then I transitioned into corporate, and it was the same story in a different setting. Plenty of mentorship. Plenty of meetings. But when it came time for real opportunities, doors stayed closed, and my name was rarely in the room.

And in life?

That pattern showed up there, too. People would cheer me on privately but go quiet publicly. It taught me something powerful: sometimes people love your potential, just not enough to risk their position to elevate it.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t missing mentors.
I was missing sponsors.

I had to redefine what support actually meant because there’s a big difference between people who pour into you and people who position you.

The Difference

A mentor gives you advice.
A sponsor says your name in rooms you can’t get into yet.

A mentor helps you prepare.
A sponsor helps you get chosen.

A mentor sharpens your mindset.
A sponsor leverages their influence to create opportunity.

Both matter, but one changes your trajectory.

Mentorship helps you grow. Sponsorship helps you go.

The Hidden Cost of Staying “Mentored”

In entrepreneurship, it looked like people supported me in theory but not by sharing my services or connecting me to clients.

In corporate, it looked like leaders were offering endless feedback but never putting my name forward for stretch projects or promotions. In life, it looked like friends clapping for me but never collaborating with me.

All of it left me grateful but frustrated.
Because no matter how much potential I had, I was being developed but not elevated.

And that’s when I learned:
Mentorship feels safe.
It’s private, encouraging, and doesn’t cost much.
But sponsorship? Sponsorship requires risk.

It’s a leader saying, “I’ll vouch for her.”
A friend says, “She’s the one for that.”
A colleague said, “She should lead that.”

That’s where transformation begins.

The Self-Check: Are You Ready for Sponsorship?

Here’s something I had to learn the hard way: sometimes, we’re not being overlooked; we’re simply not ready for sponsorship yet.

There’s a season where we need mentorship to develop the skills, mindset, and clarity that prepare us for the next level. And then there’s a season where we’ve outgrown advice and need advocacy, someone to help us walk through the door we’ve been preparing to open.

The key is to be intentional enough to know which season you’re in. If you confuse the two, you’ll either stay stuck waiting for a sponsor you’re not ready for or stay safe under a mentor when you’ve already outgrown that stage.

Leaders, Friends, and Dream Builders: This Is a Check-In

If you lead people, coach people, or simply love people, this applies to you.

Ask yourself:

• When was the last time I mentioned someone’s name in a room they weren’t in?

• Do I give advice… or do I create opportunity?

• Have I mistaken mentorship for sponsorship because the latter requires vulnerability and visibility?

If we truly want to create cultures where confidence thrives, we must be intentional about advocacy, not just encouragement.

For the Ones Waiting on a Door to Open

If you’re reading this and you’ve been “mentored to death,” stay encouraged. You’re not overlooked, you’re in preparation. Keep showing up with excellence, but start paying attention to alignment.
Not everyone meant to teach you is meant to take you with them, and that’s okay.

The right sponsor won’t just see your value, they’ll help others see it too.

Culture — in business, entrepreneurship, and life changes when people use their influence with intention.
Mentorship builds skill.
Sponsorship builds legacy.

Because at the end of the day, leadership isn’t about holding power — it’s about passing it on.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If this resonated, share it with a mentor, a friend, or a leader who believes in cultivating others. And if your organization is ready to build cultures where confidence and sponsorship thrive — let’s talk.

Book NaTasha to Speak or explore The Culture Edit — Confidence. Culture. Conversation.