Mid-Size Consulting Firm Achieves 95% Leadership Visibility Increase

🏆 Gold Brandon Hall Award Winner 

 

By the Numbers
  • 95% of sponsees reported increased visibility with leadership
  • 87% confident their sponsor can communicate their unique value proposition
  • 78% of sponsees had never interacted with their sponsor before the program
  • Year 3 program continuing based on positive impact and feedback
Snapshot

Client: Mid-size consulting firm
Level: High-performing/high-potential talent (sponsees) + Senior leaders (sponsors)
Challenge: Strengthen leadership pipeline and enhance diverse representation at higher levels
Program: PROXIMITY career sponsorship program
Participants: 27 sponsor-sponsee matches
Timeline: 9 months across 4 phases

The Challenge

This mid-size consulting firm sought to strengthen their leadership pipeline by creating systematic pathways for high-performing talent to advance into senior roles. The organization needed senior leaders to move beyond informal career support toward strategic sponsorship—actively advocating for and positioning high-potential employees for advancement.

Additionally, the firm wanted to increase strategic exposure of emerging leaders to senior decision-makers and create meaningful connections across different organizational levels and functions.

The Solution

Piercing Strategies co-created and delivered a match-based PROXIMITY career sponsorship program applying the H.U.M.A.N. First Methodℱ to strategic career advancement relationships.

Program structure:

  • 27 sponsor-sponsee matches selected based on performance and potential criteria
  • 9 months across 4 phases with structured progression
  • 3 learning sessions for sponsors focused on sponsorship skills and advocacy
  • 2 learning sessions for sponsees on career development and strategic positioning
  • 2 joint collaborative conversation sessions for relationship building
  • Multiple checkpoints throughout the program for progress tracking

The program combined expert consulting and metrics with sponsorship skill-building, coaching, and facilitated collaboration sessions—transforming senior leaders into active advocates for emerging talent.

Impact & Results

Strategic Relationship Building

  • 78% of sponsees did not know their sponsor or had never interacted with them before the program
  • Intentional pairing created new networks and cross-organizational connections
  • Sponsors gained fresh perspectives on organizational challenges and emerging talent

Career Advancement & Visibility:

  • 95% of sponsees reported increased visibility with leadership
  • 87% of sponsees were confident their sponsor could communicate their unique value proposition to others
  • Strategic exposure to senior decision-makers increased significantly

Leadership Capability Development: Top growth areas cited by sponsees:

  • Strategic thinking
  • Decision-making
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Influencing and persuasion

Program Success & Sustainability:

  • Overwhelmingly positive feedback from both sponsors and sponsees
  • Client continuing program for third year with new sponsor-sponsee pool
  • 2024 Gold Brandon Hall Excellence Award for program design and impact
  • Measurable improvements in leadership pipeline strength

Organizational Impact:

  • Senior leaders developed strategic sponsorship skills
  • Enhanced succession planning and internal advancement pathways
  • Cultural shift toward intentional talent advocacy

Stronger connections between emerging and senior leaders

Key Takeaways 

  • Strategic pairing creates breakthrough connections. The 78% who never interacted before program start demonstrates the power of intentional matching beyond existing networks.
  • Sponsorship differs from mentorship. The 87% confidence in value proposition communication shows sponsors moved beyond advice-giving to active advocacy and strategic positioning.
  • Visibility drives advancement. The 95% increase in leadership visibility directly addresses the pipeline challenge by ensuring high-potential talent is seen by decision-makers.
  • Systematic approach produces results. Moving from informal relationships to structured sponsorship with clear goals and accountability drove measurable outcomes.

     

     

 

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“PowerUp didn’t just develop individual leaders—it created a network of connected leaders who continue supporting each other’s growth long after the program ended.”