115. Expert Interview: More Than Just a Mentor, Women Need a Champion
Ida Abbott
Ida Abbott has been helping employers develop, manage and retain legal talent since 1995, following a long career as a trial lawyer. A mentor and coach to high achieving individuals, she is a co-founder of the Professional Development Consortium and the Hastings Leadership Academy for Women. Much of her current work focuses on advancing women.
How Women Find Sponsors, Mentors and Champions
Why Is This Important?
Recent studies show most motivated individuals know the importance of mentoring, but women are far less likely than men to have advocates and champions who consistently advance their careers “even when they’re not in the room.” Gender bias—conscious and unconscious—is still a stark reality in all professions.
What Are the Key Lessons Learned Here?
It’s crucial to have a champion for your career and professional advancement, someone who becomes actively engaged on your behalf. Not every mentor will do this. A champion will not only advise you but will actually make things happen for you. This is the highest form of mentoring.
On Her Bookshelf
Sponsoring Women: What Men Need to Know, by Ida Abbot
Women on Top: The Woman’s Guide to Leadership and Power in Law Firms, by Ida Abbot
Connecting With Ida Abbott
Email: idaabbott@aol.com
Website: www.IdaAbbott.com
Twitter: @IdaOAbbott
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sponsoringwomenbook
Free Gift
20% discounts on two of Ida Abbott’s books in print or digital format.
Sponsoring Women: What Men Need to Know. Use discount code “Leader” through November 1, 2015.
Women on Top: The Woman’s Guide to Leadership and Power in Law Firms. Mention this podcast in an email to idaabbott@aol.com for discount.
Other books on mentoring, by Ida Abbott, are available here, although not currently on discount.
