Over the past 12 months, how often have you offered mentorship to a woman, and how many times have you actively used your influence to appoint a qualified woman to a board?

Most of us would agree that the first figure is higher. After a decade of leading Women Get On Board Inc. (WGOB), I have come to a difficult conclusion: mentorship has stagnated as an effective tool for increasing board diversity.

Women hold approximately 30% of board seats at TSX-listed companies, and progress has notably decelerated. The slowdown is not caused by a lack of qualifications among women. Mentorship alone cannot lead to gender equality.

The truth is, women don’t need more advice. They need someone willing to invest social capital on their behalf.

Here’s how I think about the difference between mentorship and sponsorship:

Mentorship is private. Sponsorship is public. A mentor offers advice. A sponsor shares influence. Mentorship is scalable. Sponsorship costs you something because your reputation is on the line.

Mentors talk to you. Sponsors talk about you in rooms you’re not in.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is “Give To Gain.” Sponsorship is the truest form of “give” because it costs you something real: your time, your reputation, your social capital.

I’m issuing a challenge: between now and IWD 2027, commit to one sponsorship action.

1. Recommend a qualified woman to another board during a governance discussion.
2. Actively sponsor a woman into a committee chair role on your own board.
3. Connect a woman executive directly to a CEO or investor who’s recruiting.
4. Serve as a vocal, on-the-record reference in an executive search process.

For those concerned about merit, sponsorship expands the candidate pool to include qualified women outside closed networks. The bar stays where it is. The gate simply opens wider.

For those who feel they lack influence: if you’re on a board, you have more power than you think. Your endorsement matters.

I believe in the power of three: one woman in the boardroom is a token, two is a presence, and three is a voice. Mentorship has prepared a generation of women to be board-ready. Sponsorship is how we actively bring them into the room.

My challenge to my network is simple: go beyond mentoring and become a sponsor for a deserving woman. You’ll be amazed by the real impact your influence can have.