How to Get Powerful Sponsors.

In my 20s, I desperately wanted to be a real estate developer.

Problem was, I was a lowly assistant—at a firm where every developer was a man and every assistant was a woman. There was no career path from assistant to developer.

• The most powerful men had their own assistants.

• The less powerful men shared a pool of assistants.

And then there was me—a short, young, and even younger-looking Chinese American woman who did not come from a country club.

To build my credibility, I went back to school and earned two graduate degrees.

But those credentials were NOT what did the trick.

The Hustle That Opened Doors

At work, I did more than what was asked. I paid close attention.

I listened to how deals got made.

Anytime I finished my own work, I’d ask how I could help. After the other assistants left at 5 o’clock, I became everyone’s assistant.

I didn’t just complete tasks—I solved problems. Were they preparing a pitch? I researched the client before they needed it. Were they running an analysis? I hung around and learned how to do it.

I was hungry. I wanted so bad to be part of their group. It must have showed, because one day, a senior partner, Bob Goodwin, pulled me aside.

“Joy, you REALLY want to be a developer? You need to learn to drink good Scotch.”

I blinked. Scotch? You mean whisky?

Bob explained.

There was a bar downstairs where the developers gathered a couple of nights a week. I had no idea. But that’s where the real conversations happened—where they strategized, talked office politics, and built trust.

So Bob started bringing me.

I learned to drink the peatiest, smokiest single malt whiskies. I can still taste that Lagavulin 18-year—no rocks, just a little water.

Of course, it was never about the whisky.

It was about being in the right rooms.

Because while I had been grinding away at my desk, the real game was happening after hours.

Two years later, I was a real estate developer. Five years later, I was Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles.

It took me 15 years to pay off my graduate school debt, but in the end, the whisky lessons were even more valuable.

Because what I lacked wasn’t technical skills. It was access—and the unwritten rules of the game.

And it all started with a mentor who saw my potential—because I first proved I was worth investing in.

I recently caught up with Bob. He’s retired now. We went to lunch, and when I shared with him the story of his whisky lessons, he roared laughing.

How to Attract Powerful Sponsors in Three Steps

Sponsors don’t start as sponsors. They start as mentors.

Before someone puts their reputation on the line for you, they need to trust you. And that trust? You have to earn it.

1️⃣ Offer Value in Unexpected Ways

Mentors aren’t looking for more people to manage—they want sharp, proactive people who make their lives easier.

Look for the work nobody wants to do but that higher-ups need done. That’s your opening.

• Wrong: “Can you mentor me?”

• Right: “I noticed your team is expanding. Would it help if I put together an onboarding guide for new hires?”

2️⃣ Think Like a Consigliere

The most trusted people in any organization are the ones leaders confide in. They don’t just do their job; they help their boss do their job better. Instead of just taking orders, ask yourself.

• What’s keeping my boss up at night?

• How can I make their life easier?

• What problems can I solve before they arise?

When you anticipate needs and solve problems, leaders pull you into the conversations that matter.

3️⃣ Make Them Look Good, and They’ll Make You Look Good

Powerful people don’t just want to give advice. They want to invest in people who drive impact.

Sponsorship isn’t just between you and your sponsor—it’s about their reputation. If they put their name behind you, they need to trust that you’ll make them look good.

Too many people get stuck as reliable doers of low-value work. Be valuable to the right people.

So valuable, they come looking for you.

Your Next Move

Mentors and sponsors aren’t something you get—they’re something you earn.

Start today. Look for ways to add value. Solve problems. Build trust.

And when you do?

You won’t need to chase powerful people.

They’ll come looking for you.

🧠 What’s the most unexpected way YOU got access to a new level?

🧠 What’s the most unexpected way you gained access to a new level?

Pop over to the LinkedIn post and share your story. Someone out there might need to hear exactly what you’ve been through. ✨

Decode Corporate America’s Unwritten Rules—Free 5-Day Email Course

Recruiting sponsors is just one piece of the puzzle. Corporate America runs by unwritten rules, and if you don’t know them, you’ll never be a player.

Want to decode how decisions really get made, who gets promoted, and why?

📩 Sign up for my free 5-day email course:  thejoychen.com/unwrittenrules

Because once you know the game, you can play it—and win it—on your terms.