Mentorship and sponsorship are pivotal for nurturing talent and developing leadership in the healthcare sector. A recent panel discussion chaired by Dr. Pascale Anglade of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, as part of the IHF’s Women in Leadership Special Interest Group, explored the profound impact of these practices. This insightful session brought together a diverse panel of experts to share their experiences with mentoring and sponsorship, ranging from informal interactions to structured programmes and innovative mentoring circles. Collectively, their perspectives illuminated how these practices can shape careers, build confidence and strengthen leadership pathways in healthcare.
The Power of Mentorship: Fostering Growth
Mentorship has long been recognised as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, offering guidance, encouragement and insight. Dr. Mantwa Chisale Mabotja emphasised the significant benefits that mentoring can provide, including enhanced confidence, better workplace support and accelerated career progression. Through mentorship, individuals can gain clarity about their goals, overcome challenges and find opportunities for advancement that may otherwise be inaccessible.
Dr. Mabotja also highlighted the necessity of formal mentorship programmes to ensure equitable access. These programmes create structured opportunities for individuals to benefit from mentorship while allowing organisations to evaluate their impact and gather feedback to refine their initiatives. Equally important is the value of informal mentoring, which often takes place during everyday workplace interactions. A simple conversation or feedback from a trusted colleague can spark new ideas or motivate individuals to take the next step in their career. By fostering environments that support both formal and informal mentoring, healthcare organisations can nurture talent and build a robust leadership pipeline.
Addressing Mentorship Scarcity and Emphasising Sponsorship
Despite its evident advantages, mentorship is not universally accessible, particularly in regions where resources are limited. Kobus Jooste from Elegancia Healthcare Qatar discussed the challenges of mentorship scarcity in the Middle East, particularly in nursing. He noted that a lack of mentors can hinder the progression of nurses into leadership roles, such as transitioning from unit managers to nursing directors. To address this, healthcare leaders must prioritise developing their teams and ensuring mentorship opportunities are available regardless of geographic or resource constraints. Additionally, mentoring efforts should be tailored to the individual’s ambitions, avoiding gender biases and focusing on personalised career guidance.
Another crucial aspect of professional development is the distinction between mentorship and sponsorship. As Gayle Capozzalo from The Equity Collaborative explained, while mentorship involves providing guidance and support, sponsorship goes a step further by leveraging influence to create opportunities and advocate for the mentee. Sponsors play a vital role in advancing careers by ensuring talented individuals gain visibility and access to leadership positions. Both mentorship and sponsorship are essential for fostering a diverse and inclusive leadership landscape in healthcare, enabling individuals from all backgrounds to thrive.
Mentoring Circles: Building Collaborative Relationships
Innovative approaches, such as mentoring circles, offer exciting possibilities for strengthening leadership development. Deborah Bowen, President and CEO of the American College of Healthcare Executives, introduced a pilot project for 2025 aimed at establishing mentoring circles. These small, regional groups are designed to foster dialogue, trust and mutual learning among participants, creating a supportive space for individuals to share experiences, set goals and collaborate on their professional growth.
The mentoring circles will operate primarily through virtual meetings, with opportunities for in-person gatherings at key events such as the World Hospital Congress. Each circle will focus on achieving specific objectives over its lifecycle, with clear evaluation criteria to assess its success. This structured yet flexible framework allows participants to connect meaningfully, learn from one another and develop actionable insights. Mentoring circles exemplify the power of collective mentoring, enabling healthcare professionals to build relationships and strengthen their leadership skills within a supportive community.
The panel discussion underscored the transformative potential of mentorship and sponsorship in healthcare leadership. By embracing a combination of formal programmes, informal interactions and innovative solutions such as mentoring circles, healthcare organisations can create an environment where talent flourishes and leadership pathways are strengthened. Addressing mentorship scarcity and ensuring diversity through sponsorship further enhances this process, paving the way for a more inclusive and resilient leadership landscape.
Mentoring practices will remain a cornerstone for professional growth in healthcare. By investing in these initiatives, organisations not only empower their workforce but also enhance the overall capability of the sector, ensuring it is well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the modern healthcare environment. Through mentorship and sponsorship, the next generation of healthcare leaders can emerge, equipped with the skills, confidence and resilience to drive meaningful change.
Source: International Hospital Federation
Image Credit: iStock
