One of the hardest jobs in business: Being a ‘sponsor’ that protects rising female execs

– Sponsor her. Women in the workplace need both mentorship and sponsorship. The latter is someone who advocates for you when you’re not in the room, explains Rosalind Chow, an advocate for sponsorship and the author of the new book The Doors You Can Open. 

But sponsorship often isn’t a small ask of senior leaders—and it can be an even bigger ask of women. Rising women are more likely to need “protection” from their sponsors. 

“Women proteges tend to get criticized more often—so...