Leadership
Breaking Into Leadership: What It Really Takes
16 September 2026 · Global Women's Week
Less about 'leaning in' harder, more about visibility, sponsorship, and specific skill-building.
Competence alone rarely leads to promotion — visibility does. Volunteering for high-impact, visible projects (not just more work) is one of the most reliable paths into leadership consideration.
A sponsor — someone senior who actively advocates for you in rooms you're not in — matters more than a mentor who simply gives advice. Actively seeking sponsorship, not just mentorship, changes outcomes.
Leadership skills like delegation, giving difficult feedback, and managing up can all be practiced before a formal title arrives — starting in current projects builds a track record that makes the next step easier to argue for.
Quick tips
- Seek visible, high-impact projects, not just more work
- Distinguish between a mentor (advice) and a sponsor (advocacy) — pursue both
- Practice delegation and feedback skills before you're formally required to