S2E5: Demystifying Sponsorship with Faith Eatman

Having a sponsor at work has been a key tool for many leaders to skyrocket in their careers. However, sponsor relationships remain elusive for many Black women leaders due to a lack of access to senior leaders and low visibility in their organizations amongst other causes.   In this episode, our special guest, Faith Eatman, discusses her experience with spearheading a sponsorship program specifically for Black women at her organization. We take a behind-the-scenes look at Faith's innovative approach to creating a program that addresses both the access issues and the systemic barriers within her organization--all while centering the experience of Black women. Faith educates us on the four A's of a sponsor's role, provides tips for Black women looking to secure a sponsor, and shares her process for getting buy-in for her program from C-suite leaders in her organization (Hint: it's a process that can be used to get buy-in on ANY of your projects).   Overall, Faith gives us a refreshing view of sponsorship programs, as she highlights that it provides a benefit for all parties involved. Black women get more support to showcase their brilliance.  C-suite execs  get an "ear to the ground" to expand their view within the organization and strengthen their capacity as inclusive leaders, and organizations diversify their leadership and move closer to a more inclusive culture.   Guest Bio  Faith Eatman is a People & Process Improvement expert with over ten years of experience leading process improvement and change management for some of the top organizations in the healthcare industry, including The Joint Commission, Presence Health, and currently, UChicago Medicine. Motivated by today's environment, she's passionate about utilizing her people-first problem-solving approach and critical thinking skills to act – rather than passively react – to facilitate sustainable change. Her lifelong mission is to leverage her expertise in change management and continuous improvement to help organizations solve complex DEI business problems. Her passion project is to close the gap for Black women in the workplace Faith is a graduate of the University of Illinois (BS) and holds double Masters degrees (MPH, MBA) from Saint Xavier University. She has earned certifications in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Lean Methodology, and Change Management. Faith resides in Oak Park, IL with her husband and son.  Connect with Faith: LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/faith-eatman Resources: TEDTalk by Carla Harris - How to find the person that can help you get ahead at work  Credits: Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/ Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: [email protected] Instagram: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Podbay