Beyond Advice: How To Get Sponsored, Not Just Mentored

You don’t get promoted by working harder.

You get promoted when the right people speak up for you — especially when you're not in the room.

Back by popular demand, this powerful session returns to spotlight one of the most overlooked but career-defining tools for women in the workplace: sponsorship.

If you’ve ever been told to “find a mentor,” but still feel stuck, invisible, or passed over for opportunities — this event is for you.

Because while mentors give advice...

Sponsors create access.

Brought to you by Lean In Network, Singapore — in partnership with Cisco and Hakopi, our event and game partners for the evening.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

Women are over-mentored and under-sponsored.

We’re told to “get a mentor” — when what we really need is someone with power to open doors, vouch for us, and put our names on the table.

This session is for ambitious women who are ready to stop waiting, and start being advocated for.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

✅ How to tell the difference between mentorship and sponsorship — and why you need both

✅ Why sponsorship is critical to visibility, stretch roles, and upward mobility

✅ How to position yourself for advocacy without sounding transactional

✅ What senior leaders actually look for in potential protégés

✅ How to build and sustain strong sponsor relationships over time

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Executive Panel: Hear directly from senior leaders on what makes a sponsorship relationship impactful, what they look for, and how they've advocated for others behind closed doors.
• Hands-On Group Activity: Put the insights into action, and Increase Your Odds of Having Effective Sponsors
• Live Q&A + Networking: Ask what you really want to know — and connect with peers and professionals who are navigating similar growth paths.

Don’t leave your career to chance.

Join us and learn how to build the kind of relationships that open doors — and get your name in the room when it matters most.

Speakers

Uma Thana Balasingam

Founder of Lean In Network Singapore | The ELEVATE Group | Leadership Strategist & Global Speaker

Uma is a former VP of a multi-billion plus dollar tech business, multi-award winning tech executive, now a multi-hyphenate founder, speaker, and movement builder. Through The ELEVATE Group, Lean In Singapore and her podcast RAW with UMA, she’s helped thousands of women across Asia rise in leadership — teaching the real skills that drive promotion: sponsorship, visibility, and strategic influence.

Jacqueline Guichelaar

Customer Experience Officer at Cisco for Asia Pacific, Japan and Great China - based in Singapore.

Her experience spans 30 years as a CIO, CTO, COO and an IT Professional. She now has the opportunity to support Cisco customers in their IT Digitisation and Transformation journey, which she has faced into many times in her career. She calls it ‘walking in the shoes of our customers’.

Ritika Datta

Founder, Hakopi | Expert Game Design Strategist

A behavioral psychologist with over a decade of experience, Ritika Datta has designed award-winning games and simulations, helping organisations like Google, Akamai, Bosch, Goldman Sachs and Prudential use the power of games to drive lasting change.

Her games and interactive learning experiences don’t just teach—they engage, inspire, and make learning stick. By blending academic rigor with real-world application, her work empowers individuals to take practical steps toward growth and transformation - in a safe and playful manner.

On a mission to redefine the learning landscape, Ritika is shaping the future of adult learning and education—one game at a time.

About Lean In Network

LeanIn.Org was founded by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to empower all women to achieve their ambitions. Founded in 2016, Lean In Network, Singapore’s mission is to inspire, equip, and empower the women of Singapore to fulfill their career ambitions and lead successful, happy lives. Today, we are a community of over 7,000+ women and men across all ages, backgrounds, and professions.

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About Cisco

Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all.

About Hakopi

Hakopi is a boutique learning game design studio specializing in immersive, application-focused games and simulations. We create engaging experiences that spark meaningful conversations and drive lasting behavioral change. Using principles of behavioral design, our games turn concepts into actionable, everyday practices, making it easy to transfer learning from workshop to workplace.