Mentorship supports personal development; sponsorship is laser-focused on professional development plus advancement. “A sponsor is someone who is actively advocating for your success and staking their personal capital on your development,” says Carole Watkins, chief human resources Officer of Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health. “When there is [a] talent-planning meeting, it is a fortunate woman who has a sponsor sitting at the table who can say about a particular woman, ‘I’ve seen her work.
I believe she is a good fit for this role and let me give you three reasons why.’”
Enlightened CEOs are also in the best position to challenge certain micro-inequities. For example, male mentors sometimes undermine the mentorship process by fixating on not allowing female mentees to fail. “It’s important for all young managers to have the opportunity to fail and be mentored through that experience,” says Noreen Beaman, CEO of Brinker Capital, a $13 billion investment management firm. Unfortunately, given a choice between coaching a woman mentee to try something easy or taking a risk at which she might fail but grow, some male mentors will unconsciously encourage women mentees to go for the easy win instead of the riskier, but more rewarding course. “CEOs can challenge this dynamic by encouraging women leaders to be as bold as their male counterparts,” she says.
As women assume authority, organizations often become less hierarchical and new opportunities for learning emerge. Elle Kaplan recalls that when she was named VP of sales at Lexion Capital Management, she agreed to be mentored by a male sales director she subsequently hired. “My attitude was I should be able to reach out to the people who have the best experience to coach me, wherever [or not] they reside in the hierarchy,” she says. The coaching helped improve her game. Few men in her position would consider asking for mentorship from someone junior to them in authority.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
