Episode 125- Carla Harris on Why You Need a Sponsor Not a Mentor

To succeed at work and advance your career, you need someone who will advocate for you. Who will be your champion? Carla Harris, Vice Chairman…

Episode 125- Carla Harris on Why You Need a Sponsor Not a Mentor

To succeed at work and advance your career, you need someone who will advocate for you. Who will be your champion? Carla Harris, Vice Chairman…

To succeed at work and advance your career, you need someone who will advocate for you. Who will be your champion? Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, believes that a sponsor is the critical relationship in your career. Carla began her career on Wall Street at a time when few of her colleagues were African-American or women. She oversees Morgan Stanley’s multicultural client strategy, helped build the company’s Multicultural Innovation Lab, and was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. On this episode, Carla shares what she’s learned about pathways to career success. Discover the difference between mentors and sponsors, how to get a sponsor, and why authenticity is your competitive advantage.

Follow Carla: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

“Perception is the co-pilot to reality.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

The early influences on her life (2:37)
What sparked her interest in a career in finance (4:47)
Using doubters as motivation (7:46)
Carving out a seat at the table as an African American woman on Wall Street (10:56)
The Multicultural Innovation Lab at Morgan Stanley (12:52)
The way to grow your power is to give it away (15:29)
The difference between a sponsor and a mentor (18:08)
How to get a sponsor (20:21)
How to decide whether you should sponsor someone (24:01)
The responsibility of sharing your lessons learned with others (25:51)
“Perception is the co-pilot to reality.” (27:01)
Your authenticity is your competitive advantage (27:25)
The importance of relationship currency (29:17)
Put the right person in the right seat at the right time (31:06)
Re-framing work-life balance (37:25)

Resources / People Mentioned

Linkage Women in Leadership Institute
TED Talk: How to find the person to help you get ahead at work
Expect to Win by Carla Harris
Strategize to Win by Carla Harris
Morgan Stanley
National Women’s Business Council
Harvard Board of Overseers
Walmart Board of Directors
SEO– Seizing Every Opportunity
Perry Mason, TV show
The Multicultural Innovation Lab
Meg Whitman
Transform Your Life by Dr. Barbara King
Power Book II: Ghost
Ursula Burns, former CEO of Xerox
Ken Chenault, former CEO of American Express
Ken Frazier, former CEO of Merck
John Mack, former CEO of Morgan Stanley
James Gorman, CEO of Morgan Stanley
Bernard Tyson, former CEO of Kaiser
Vernon Jordan, civil rights activist

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Get Molly’s Free 5-Minute Morning Routine to Build Better Relationships

LATEST BOOK

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

A #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

In a world fixated on fleeting success, a bold framework for pursuing your goals unapologetically without compromising what matters most. This isn’t just another self-help theory: Dynamic Drive is your practical guide to unlocking your true potential. Through her decades of experience working with top athletes and peak performers across industries, renowned keynote speaker and leadership expert Molly Fletcher has created a proven formula backed by research that outlines the seven keys to sustainable success. The truth is fulfillment doesn’t come from setting and accomplishing goals in isolation. It comes from Dynamic Drive—a holistic approach that connects all parts of you with your purpose and allows you to engage in meaningful growth, both personally and professionally. Unlike traditional approaches that dilute drive into a mere means to an end, which can lead to burnout, Dynamic Drive is a way of life, a mindset. It’s about figuring out the parts of your life where you are playing small or safe or are dissatisfied. Dynamic Drive is the process by which we implement and sustain intentional change. The greatest reward isn’t in what you achieve, but who you become in the process. Your path to sustained high performance in all areas of your life begins here. This is your manual for an aligned, joyful, and relentless pursuit of a better you.

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

Episode 241- Hall of Famer Dawn Staley on What It Really Takes to Win

She’s one of the most respected voices in sports: a Hall of Famer, three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player, and three-time national champion coach. As head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse program rooted in discipline and heart. In this episode, Dawn shares...

Episode 240- 5 Habits That Will Instantly Improve Your Sleep with Dr. Michael Breus

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of adults aren’t getting enough sleep and nearly 4 in 10 regularly struggle to fall asleep. If you want to change your life, start by fixing your sleep. In this episode, I sit down with renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, “The Sleep...

Episode 239- How to Lead When Everything Feels Like It’s Falling Apart with Admiral William McRaven

What do you do when the pressure is mounting and people are looking to you for answers? Admiral William McRaven has been there– leading high-stakes missions as a Navy SEAL, including the raid that brought down Osama bin Laden. In this episode, the four-star admiral and bestselling author of Make...

Episode 238- How to Lead Without Waiting for Permission with Shelley Zalis

What if the rules you’ve been told to follow were never designed for you to succeed? Shelley Zalis asked that question and then rewrote the playbook. As the founder and CEO of The Female Quotient, she built the largest global community of women in business, spanning 30 industries and 100+...

Episode 237- Serena Williams’ Coach Patrick Mouratoglou on Why Talent Isn’t Enough

What if the very thing we celebrate most—talent—is actually holding us back? Patrick Mouratoglou is one of the most respected coaches in tennis, best known for guiding Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 Grand Slam titles and now coaching four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. But his insights go...

Episode 236- Dr. Becky Kennedy on Raising Resilient, Confident Kids

What if your hardest parenting moments are actually your greatest opportunities to lead with confidence, connection, and trust? Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the founder of Good Inside—a global parenting movement changing the way we raise our kids. In this episode, Dr. Becky shares practical...

Resources