Rosalind Chow on How Sponsors Fuel Your Career Growth | EP 602

Apr 24, 2025

Dr. Rosalind Chow, an organizational behavior expert at Carnegie Mellon and author, discusses the essential role of sponsorship in career advancement. She highlights how sponsorship differs from mentorship, creating pathways that can drastically change careers for individuals who might be overlooked. The episode shares compelling stories, including Kim Ng's rise as MLB's first female GM, and delves into strategies for fostering genuine connections in the workplace. Dr. Chow emphasizes empathy, trust, and the importance of advocating for underrepresented voices in leadership.

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ANECDOTE

Designing a Leadership Program

Rosalind Chow shared a defining moment where she designed a leadership program for Black professionals despite not being Black herself. - This challenge significantly transformed her career and personal growth.

INSIGHT

Affirming Black Experience

The program was unapologetically about the Black experience and openly discussed bias and stereotyping. - This created an affirming space where participants felt seen and validated beyond their skills.

ADVICE

Listen to Understand

Practice listening deeply without responding to fully understand others' experiences. - Avoid giving cues that direct conversations, allowing free and honest sharing instead.

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Supercommunicators

How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection

Charles Duhigg

In this book, Charles Duhigg explores the secrets of 'supercommunicators' who excel at connecting with others. He delves into the three distinct types of conversations—practical, emotional, and social—and provides practical strategies and case studies to illustrate how to recognize and navigate these conversations effectively. The book includes examples from various contexts, such as jury deliberations, CIA recruitments, and workplace interactions, to demonstrate how communication can be improved. Duhigg emphasizes the importance of active listening, identifying complex emotions, and matching the type of conversation to enhance connection and understanding.

Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography by Nelson Mandela that chronicles his early life, his education, and his 27 years spent in prison under the apartheid government. The book describes his role as a leader of the African National Congress and his involvement in the anti-apartheid movement. It also details his political ascension and his presidency of South Africa, as well as his efforts to rebuild the country after apartheid. The book is an epic of struggle, setback, renewed hope, and ultimate triumph, and it has been praised for its insight into Mandela's life and his fight for human rights and racial equality.

Division of Labor in Society

Émile Durkheim

In 'The Division of Labor in Society', Émile Durkheim examines how societies transition from mechanical to organic solidarity, influenced by the division of labor. He argues that this transition is crucial for maintaining social order in advanced industrial societies. The book is foundational in modern sociology, discussing the role of social facts and the importance of moral regulation alongside economic regulation.

The Doors You Can Open

A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence to Create a More Inclusive Workplace

Rosalind Chow

Rosalind Chow's "The Doors You Can Open" explores the concept of sponsorship as a crucial tool for fostering inclusivity in the workplace. The book differentiates sponsorship from mentorship, highlighting how sponsors act on behalf of their protégés to influence external audiences. Chow emphasizes the importance of trust in sponsorship, arguing that sponsors must trust their protégés' abilities, while the protégés' trust in the sponsor is less critical. The book provides practical strategies for individuals to become effective sponsors and advocates for others, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and inclusive work environment. It challenges traditional networking approaches, advocating for a collective problem-solving model that prioritizes the group's success.

Talk

Alison Wood Brooks

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a spiritual conversion narrative that outlines Malcolm X's philosophy of black pride, black nationalism, and pan-Africanism. The book, based on over 50 in-depth interviews conducted by Alex Haley between 1963 and Malcolm X's assassination in 1965, covers Malcolm's childhood, his young adulthood in Boston and New York City, his involvement in organized crime, his prison sentence, and his subsequent involvement with the Nation of Islam. It also details his disillusionment with the Nation of Islam, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his travels in Africa. The book is known for its candid and introspective narrative, offering a personal and historical perspective on the civil rights era and the life of one of its most influential figures.

Letter from the Birmingham jail

Martin Luther King Jr

Dion Graham

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is a powerful and influential letter written in response to criticism of the civil rights movement. King eloquently defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance and addresses concerns about the methods used to achieve racial equality. The letter is a masterpiece of rhetoric and persuasion, articulating the moral urgency of the struggle for civil rights. King's powerful words and unwavering commitment to justice continue to inspire activists and readers worldwide. The "Letter from Birmingham Jail" remains a cornerstone of the civil rights movement and a testament to the power of nonviolent resistance.

What if the key to unlocking your next big career move isn’t just mentorship—but sponsorship?

In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Rosalind Chow, a leading organizational behavior expert at Carnegie Mellon and author of The Doors You Can Open. Together, they unpack the transformative power of sponsorship—where people in positions of power actively advocate, endorse, and open doors for others in ways that mentorship alone cannot.

Click here for the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/rosalind-chow-sponsors-fuel-your-career-growth/

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Key Takeaways:

The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why the latter creates greater opportunity
How sponsorship helped Kim Ng become the first female GM in Major League Baseball
The hidden ways bias shows up in networking and decision-making
What it means to "leverage your power" to lift others without risking your own standing
Why trust, social capital, and influence matter more than advice
How organizations can embed sponsorship into their culture for lasting change

For more information on Dr. Rosalind Chow: https://www.rosalindchow.com/

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