Don't Just Sponsor Women and People of Color -- Defend Them. Part of your responsibility is being willing to put your credibility on the line to back them up.

The article focuses on the importance of not only sponsoring but actively defending women and people of color in leadership roles to counteract the biases and double standards they face. It highlights how female and minority leaders often encounter a "double-bind," where their behavior is scrutinized more harshly than their peers', and how defending them from criticism requires sponsors—typically those in positions of power, often white men—to take reputational risks. The piece emphasizes that while anyone can sponsor, the most critical and risky form—defending protégés—is disproportionately needed by marginalized groups, and thus the responsibility to advocate and protect them should primarily rest with powerful sponsors outside these groups. This approach aims to address systemic inequities in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within organizations.