The power of sponsorship to transform careers is now well known. When a protégé delivers performance and trustworthiness and a sponsor delivers capital and clout, this highly reciprocal relationship turbocharges the careers of both. Indeed, both finding a sponsor and being a sponsor are key to get from the middle to the top of any organization. Across talent cohorts, male managers who win sponsorship are 23% more likely to progress to the next rung of the career ladder than peers who do not have sponsors. (The figure for women is 19%.) Managers and executives who proactively sponsor high-achieving junior talent are 53% more likely to advance to the next rung of the leadership ladder than peers who fail to sponsor.