Advised, not Advanced: The Mentorship-Sponsorship Divide in High-Tech Leadership
Advised, not Advanced: The Mentorship-Sponsorship Divide in High-Tech Leadership
Author(s): Zeala PintoSubject(s): Social Sciences, Economy, Gender Studies, Business Economy / Management, Sociology, Management and complex organizations, Human Resources in Economy
Published by: EDITURA ASE
Keywords: sponsorship; mentorship; women in leadership; high-tech; gender inequality; organizational advancement;
Summary/Abstract: Women in high-tech leadership can receive extensive mentorship yet remain stalled because they lack sponsorship, active advocacy by senior leaders with influence over promotions and high-visibility assignments. This study investigates the mentorship-sponsorship divide using a mixed-methods design: semi-structured interviews with 19 participants in Israeli high-tech (senior women leaders, HR directors, and male gatekeepers) triangulated with item-level survey data from 219 women in technology leadership. The qualitative analysis reveals three core themes: (1) a "Mentored to Death" phenomenon, where women accumulate development activities that rarely convert into upward mobility; (2) a sponsorship deficit driven by exclusionary informal networks and homophily in senior decision-making; and (3) bridging strategies, including accountable sponsorship programs and peer advocacy networks, that can close the gap between advice and advancement.
Journal: Revista de Management Comparat Internațional
- Issue Year: 27/2026
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 277-288
- Page Count: 12
- Language: English
