Cultivate Intention. Cultivate Momentum.
Cultivate Sponsorship: Activating visibility, advocacy, and advancement for underrepresented and high-potential talent – so organisations retain and promote leaders from within.
From the Desk of Katriina Tähkä, Founder & CEO
January is not a reset.
It’s a design moment.
A chance to decide what continues – not what disappears when motivation fades.
At Cultivate, we begin the year with evidence, not resolutions.
Because momentum doesn’t come from good intentions alone.
It comes from structure, advocacy, and relationships that last.
This month marks a significant milestone for us: the launch of the Cultivate Sponsorship Program in the UK with Laing O’Rourke, commencing 26th January 2026.
This is not a pilot.
It’s the expansion of a proven model – one that delivers measurable retention, progression, and long-term advocacy.
As we step into 2026, our focus is clear:
begin with intention, and build momentum that lasts.
Inside This Month’s Edition
- Why sponsorship drives retention and leadership continuity
- Participant reflections on what advocacy actually changes
- Cultivate Sponsorship officially launches in the UK
- How to design meaningful career momentum in 2026
- Podcasts and Books we’re paying attention to this month
Feature Topic: Begin With Intention. Build Momentum That Lasts.
January often brings urgency.
Cultivate brings clarity.
Our data continues to show that careers accelerate and cultures strengthen when sponsorship is treated as a long-term commitment, not a short-term initiative.
What makes the difference?
- Advocacy, not advice
- Structure that supports real connection
- Accountability that endures beyond the program
This is why 92% of Cultivate sponsor–sponsee relationships continue beyond the formal program.
And why 92% of participants remain with their organisation after completing Cultivate Sponsorship.
These numbers don’t reflect motivation.
They reflect systems that hold people in place long enough to grow.
Spotlight: What Sponsorship Feels Like in Practice
Across industries, roles, and geographies, participants tell us the same thing:
being sponsored changes how you see yourself – and how others see you.
For some, sponsorship shows up as being named in the right room.
For others, it’s finally having someone advocate when decisions are made.
Here are real reflections from current Cultivate participants:
“The opportunity to engage in open and honest conversations with my sponsor helped me reflect on my strengths and areas for growth.”
“The structured goal-setting sessions by the program and my sponsor were instrumental in helping me stay focused and accountable.”
“Being able to talk about some of my daily struggles and learning that it’s a more common problem than I thought made me feel more confident that I am doing okay in my current position.”
“Obtaining a different perspective on solutions to my problems from a more senior leader made a significant difference.”
“Expanding my network helped me find clarity in my career aspirations.”
From the sponsor side, the impact is just as powerful:
“My highlight has been seeing my sponsee realise that she has the ability and confidence to set and achieve her goals.”
“Being given the opportunity to work with someone from a completely different part of the business has helped me learn more about myself and my leadership style.”
This is what real advocacy creates:
confidence, clarity, and movement.
A Milestone Moment: Cultivate Sponsorship Launches in the UK
On 26 January 2026, Cultivate Sponsorship officially commenced in the UK with Laing O’Rourke.
What’s launching is a proven, evidence-based model – now embedded in a new context, with the same standards of structure, accountability, and advocacy.
Built on:
- Long-term sponsor-sponsee relationships
- Shared responsibility for outcomes
- Measurable retention and progression
This is how sponsorship scales.
Not through slogans, but through commitment.
This expansion reflects a growing recognition that sponsorship is no longer optional, and means more people experiencing it as a daily practice that shapes careers and confidence.
We’re proud to partner with Laing O’Rourke UK as they invest in sponsorship that lasts.
Looking Ahead: Designing Your 2026 Momentum
As the year begins, we invite you to reflect:
- Where does advocacy need to deepen – in your team, your organisation, or your own career?
- Who needs visibility – and who could help provide it?
Careers move when intention is matched with action.
And cultures change when sponsorship is real.
What We’re Paying Attention To
These are ideas we return to as we think about growth, advocacy, and momentum – whether you’re sponsoring others, being sponsored, or building your own path.
🎧 Podcasts
How I Built This – Guy Raz
The world’s best-known entrepreneurs reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success.
Worklife with Adam Grant – TED
Organisational Psychologist Adam Grant explores the science of work, leadership, and relationships, offering research-backed insights on how to build healthier cultures and make better decisions.
📚 Books
The Long Game – Dorie Clark
Shows how sustained influence and career advancement are built through patience, strategic thinking, and consistent advocacy over time – not quick wins.
Give and Take – Adam Grant
Shows how generosity, advocacy, and relationship-building drive long-term success for individuals and organisations when giving is done strategically.
Final Thought
January doesn’t ask for perfection.
It asks for intention.
When advocacy is real, relationships endure.
When relationships endure, momentum follows.
Here’s to a year built with purpose – and leadership that lasts.
Begin with intention.
Build momentum that lasts.
Momentum rarely announces itself.
It shows up quietly – in who gets advocated for, who is named in rooms they’re not in, and who is still here a year later.
If you’re ready to design momentum that lasts:
- Book your Pinpoint Strategy Session here
- Explore all Cultivate Services
- Download the Social Impact Report