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We’ve all heard the advice: Find a mentor. Secure a sponsor. Get a champion.
And yes, having someone advocate for your growth can be game-changing. But what happens when you look around and no one is holding the ladder for you to climb? What happens when the doors don’t open, no matter how hard you knock?
You build your own.
Not everyone will have one go-to mentor or even want one. That’s why I believe in mentorship in the moment: seeking wisdom from many sources, not just one. A quick coffee chat. A moment of truth from a peer. An unexpected insight from someone in a different department. While these moments may not come with a formal title, they can be just as transformational.
Here’s how to grow, develop, and succeed, even when that perfect mentor or sponsor doesn’t show up.
1. Be Your Own Best Advocate
Start by believing in yourself, even when no one else is saying it out loud. Your voice is your superpower. Use it to speak up, share ideas, and claim credit where it’s due. Don’t wait for someone to recognize your potential; own it with confidence and grace.
2. Build Your Personal Board of Advisors
You don’t need one mentor; you need many mentors in the moment. Create a personal board of advisors: peers, former managers, industry role models, and even voices you follow online. Ask for advice. Offer support in return. The most powerful relationships are rooted in reciprocity, not hierarchy.
3. Learn Loudly, Not Quietly
Growth doesn’t have to happen behind closed doors. Share your journey. Post takeaways from a webinar. Start a conversation in your team chat. Write your reflections after a project wrap. When you learn out loud, you not only amplify your own development, you also invite others to grow with you.
4. Join the Pack, or Start One
At The Female Quotient, we say: a woman alone has power; collectively we have impact. If you’re feeling alone, you’re not the only one. Start a meetup. Create a chat channel. Join a network. Build your pack. Connection is a catalyst for confidence.
5. Don’t Wait for an Invitation: Take Your Seat
No invitation? No problem. Pull up your own chair, or better yet, build a new table. The workplace is evolving, and the leaders of tomorrow aren’t waiting for permission; they’re creating opportunity. You don’t need a title to lead. You need purpose and a willingness to act.
6. Lead from Wherever You Are
Leadership is a mindset, not a role. Support others. Celebrate wins that aren’t yours. Lift voices that go unheard. Be the leader you wish you had, and watch how others follow your lead.
The bottom line: we all deserve champions. But we don’t have to wait for them. The truth is, you already have the power to mentor yourself and others in the moment. So ask bold questions. Take bold steps. And rewrite your own success story without a script.
Because we’re all climbing the ladder at every level, in every direction. And when you build your own, you don’t just rise, you create new paths for others to rise with you.
