Everyone’s career journey looks a bit different, and thanks to Wnet, we can learn from leaders in the fintech space to help chart our own paths forward. Designed to help women reach the next level in their career, Wnet’s PayTechWomenLead series provides a forum for C-suite leaders in the payments and fintech industry to share insights and leadership skills.

The second session of the PayTechWomenLead series featured a fireside chat with Martina King, CEO of Featurespace, and Shemina Jiwani, COO of Ascendant Worldwide Payments, in a discussion about career sponsorship. With professional experience spanning executive and non-executive roles as well as launching technology companies, Martina credits sponsorship as an important force that has propelled her career forward.

“I’ve never met anyone who was born a manager or a leader,” says Martina. “You can have certain traits, but all of these things have to be learned. None of us are a finished article, and if anyone tries to be or pretends to be, that holds them back.”

Mentorship vs. Sponsorship

The session opened with a discussion about the importance of and differences between mentorship and sponsorship. While a mentor is someone who helps an individual with their career aspirations behind the scenes, a sponsor takes on the role of a teacher once the individual has mapped out their career.

Typically, mentors reside outside of an individual’s work environment while sponsors operate within the organization. However, Martina explains, a blend of both mentorship and sponsorship within the same organization is not unheard of and can be quite useful, particularly in non-executive roles.

The bottom line: Enlisting a sponsor can be invaluable to career advancement at any level. Read on for a recap of five key points Martina shared during the session.

#1. Know your skill gaps and move toward them.

The place to start, Martina notes, is to understand where your skill gaps are. What are your goals? If you’re aiming for the C-suite, what are the skills you need to get there? Then, go to the people that possess the particular skills you want to emulate. 

“What happens in organizations is that people tend to psychologically place CEOs in a lofty place,” says Martina. “But the reality is we are all just human, and everyone has to find their own route. It comes down to cultivating the skills you need to get into the role you want.”

Once you’ve identified your skill gaps, you can then identify the people who can help you fill those gaps. Most people, she says, love to talk about what they do and want to help. But you need to be prepared, which leads us to the next point. 

#2. Be deliberate and concise in your ask.

Before approaching any potential sponsor, it’s important to get very specific about your objective – what do you want to learn from this person and why?

“The power of the question is essential,” says Martina. “Specific questions make it so much easier for people to give you want you want.”

This means doing the research and laying the groundwork for the discussion with the potential sponsor before you reach out. Whether it’s accounting or marketing, you need to understand the lexicon for that area of expertise so you can relate to the person 

“‘Seek first to understand’ is an incredibly important mantra for me,” says Martina. “The questions enable thinking about solutions.” 

You also need to be forward-thinking, she says, and express your desire to take on something new. Enthusiasm can take an individual very far. What are you passionate about?

Before reaching out to the potential sponsor, Martina recommends mentally planning out the conversation and rehearsing it to build confidence. Martina and Shamina agree: People love to help other people as long as they’re prepared and asking the right questions.

#3. Put the company first.

An important aspect of sponsorship that many are unaware of is that it must be about more than just the individual. The individual’s goals must connect with the greater good of the company.

“You need to make sure your career is progressing,” says Martina. “But you need to make sure you’re doing things in a way that puts the company first.”

This is particularly important for individuals who feel confined to staying in their own area of expertise. While some may feel unsupported in looking for opportunities beyond their existing role, the reality is that sponsorship helps a person be even more effective in their existing job.

“When you have a plan about what you want from a sponsor and you’re clear about how that plan will also help the company, then you’re more likely to engage the support you need,” Martina says. “Sponsorship enables you to learn broadly while you’re still in your current role. It’s an important point to communicate when you’re exploring these types of opportunities.” 

#4. It’s all about relationships.

Like most everything in life and work, sponsorship is about relationships. The more exposure you have to different people with different skillsets, the more familiarity – and familiarity leads to opportunity.

“People who are in sponsorship roles want to help those who are active listeners, proactive, constructive and positive,” notes Martina. “They’re also looking for people who have opinions and aren’t afraid to express those opinions.”

When seeking a sponsor, Martina stresses the importance of not getting mired down in hierarchy in terms of who is approachable or not. Set these fears aside and approach the potential sponsor in a way that is respectful, curious and not too formal. A busy senior executive may be put off by a specific sponsorship request but be more than willing to answer a few specific questions.

“You don’t necessarily need to give the person the label of ‘sponsor,’” Martina explains. “But when your career progresses, be sure to go back and thank them.”

#5. Don’t take no for an answer. 

Not every individual you approach for sponsorship will be receptive, and that’s OK. Rejection isn’t so bad once you have a goal, says Martina. If someone can’t help you, take their feedback, act on it and move on. Resilience is key.

“Keep projecting yourself forward,” she says. “Don’t take no for an answer. Go and find someone else who says yes.”

Throughout all the career twists and turns, Martina has stayed true to her mantra: “What could be good about this?”

From what we learned during this session of PayTechWomenLead, the answer to that question seems pretty clear – a lot!

Watch the replays! PayTechWomenLead Series Part 1: Your Personal Brand: Building on Your Strengths and Overcoming Perception and Part 2: Sponsorship: The Secret to Accelerating Your Career are available for Wnet members to view on-demand.

Join us for the final session of the PayTechWomenLead Series this fall. Details to be announced soon.

Thank you to our Event Sponsor, JPMorgan Chase, and Wnet Pinnacle Sponsors, FIS, Fiserv and Global Payments, for supporting the PayTechWomenLead Series and the Wnet Community.