Cultivating Talent: The Power of Mentorship and Sponsorship in the Workplace

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Workplace belonging has a direct link to employee well-being and engagement, and mentorship is a proven strategy to boost belonging. Mentorship and sponsorship also improve workplace retention and create a strong leadership pipeline. Considering that one of the top characteristics of a company sought by Gen Z is mentorship, is your organization empowered to improve company performance and attract and retain top talent through meaningful programs like these? Or, are you at a disadvantage?

In this 1-hour panel we discuss:

• The difference between mentorship and sponsorship and why both are important
• Why mentorship and sponsorship are critically important to women and culturally diverse leaders
• The value of these programs to all participants – not just mentees – as well as the organization
• How to find a mentor, mentee, sponsor, or sponsee if a formal program doesn’t exist at your organization
• How mentorship and sponsorship programs develop inclusive leaders

Meet the Panel

Jackie Ferguson, CDE

Co-founder & VP, Content and Programming, The Diversity Movement

Jackie Ferguson is co-founder and vice president of content and programming at The Diversity Movement. A member of the 2023 Inc. Female Founders 200 list, she wrote the bestselling The Inclusive Language Handbook: A Guide to Better Communication and Transformational Leadership. Ferguson hosts “Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox” a podcast cited among the top 5% downloaded globally. She has written extensively on the power of mentorship and sponsorship.

Kerry Shad

Partner, Smith Anderson

Kerry has been practicing law for over 30 years. She represents employers in all types of employment-related disputes and provides advice and counseling to clients across many industries. Kerry serves as an elected member of Smith Anderson’s Management Committee, as Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, as a Diversity Mentor, and as Co-Lead of the firm’s Employment Practice Group. She  also leads the firm’s external Women In House Counsel Networking program which hosts regular events across North Carolina.

Brentley Wright, CDE

Director, Business Development, The Diversity Movement

As a Certified Diversity Executive and a Cornell-certified DEI practitioner, Brentley brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in multicultural business environments. Brentley’s  primary focus is expanding the reach and impact of TDM’s world-changing products and consulting services. He serves as board chair for Accelerating Men, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to mentoring young men. In addition, he serves as board member for AMIkids Infinity Wake, a non-profit dedicated to providing at-risk youth opportunities to redirect their life. He is currently augmenting his expertise with a bachelor of divinity from Grimke Seminary, specializing in urban ministry and inner city leadership.

Trier Bryant

Founder, TrierBryant.com

Trier Bryant is an investor, people-first leadership & inclusion executive, and the founder of TrierBryant.com, a consulting firm that advises organizations on strategies and tactics to improve their workplace culture. Trier has an extensive track record as an executive spearheading DEI & Inclusion initiatives at top organizations including Goldman Sachs, Twitter, and the U.S. Air Force as a previous combat military officer. She also serves on the Board for Athena SPACs and Campaign Zero. Trier has been featured as an influential voice on leadership and DEI by publications including USA Today, CNN and Fortune.