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The Doors You Can Open

A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence to Create a More Inclusive Workplace

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By Rosalind Chow

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$30.00

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$40.00 CAD

“Chow revolutionizes our understanding of how careers advance” (Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Drive), taking readers on a transformative journey beyond the standard model of mentorship to embracing sponsorship.

 
The way we currently network and engage in mentorship isn’t working. Given the ever-evolving nature of the workplace, transactional networking and company-enforced mentorship programs simply don’t help make our professional relationships more authentic or our workplaces more equitable. What we need instead is sponsorship
 
What’s the difference between mentorship and sponsorship? Mentorship involves helping a mentee change their behavior, while sponsorship involves changing how other people see a protégé. Sponsorship is as important, if not more so, than mentorship in determining who gets ahead, making it a more effective way to promote social equality and inclusion in the workplace.  
 
In The Doors You Can Open, organizational expert Rosalind Chow shows readers that they likely already engage in sponsorship in their personal and professional networks—and how they can channel those skills to build more authentic professional relationships. We all have more agency and deeper networks to act as sponsors than we might think, and sponsoring others can lead to mutually beneficial lifelong connections rather than merely transactional interactions. Given the ever-evolving nature of the workplace, intentional and equitable sponsorship is more important now than ever for overturning traditional social hierarchies. 
 
Based on decades of original research, The Doors You Can Open makes a bold case for completely changing the way we network. Reading it will change how we see and use our relationships in the service of creating stronger workplaces for all.

 

  • “Through rigorous research and compelling storytelling, Rosalind Chow revolutionizes our understanding of how careers advance. She demonstrates that the path to leadership runs through helping others rise—and that speaking up for those with less influence can create organizations that are more equitable and more effective.”
     
    Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Drive
  • The Doors You Can Open is a powerful exploration of sponsorship and its potential to transform professional relationships. Drawing from her personal experiences and research, Chow highlights how sponsorship can break down social barriers, offering practical strategies to help others succeed. This book is a must-read for leaders and anyone looking to elevate those around them and foster meaningful change in the workplace.”
     
    Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times–bestselling author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There
  • The Doors You Can Open has a beautiful message: we all have the power to help each other as sponsors by spreading praise and advocating for people we admire. This gem is packed with useful, research-based advice about how to give and get effective sponsorship. Chow’s warm and witty writing voice make it a joy to read.”
     
    Robert I. Sutton, New York Times–bestselling author of The No Asshole Rule
  • “Groundbreaking and inspiring, The Doors You Can Open has transformed how I think about that dirty word: networking. I highly recommend for anyone striving for more authentic relationships and greater success.”
     
    Dolly Chugh, author of The Person You Mean to Be
  • “With a generous and skillful blend of storytelling, research, and practical advice, The Doors You Can Open transforms sponsorship into an embodied practice that every clear-eyed professional should add to their skillset. When you think of the book on sponsorship, it should be this one.”
     
    Lily Zheng, author of DEI Deconstructed
  • The Doors You Can Open’s insightful synthesis of groundbreaking research, gripping real-world stories, and compelling personal narratives opens the door to profound new possibilities. Chow shows how subtle changes in how we approach the world can dramatically alter the life outcomes of those around us, and our own. Building off her impactful research on power and status, she demonstrates why solving problems is a more effective method for navigating social networks than leveraging value. The Doors You Can Open will not only help you become a more committed sponsor but will lead you to create a life full of deeper connections.”
     
    Adam Galinsky, author of Friend and Foe
  • “Packed with powerful insights, The Doors You Can Open is a must-read for anyone striving to uplift others in their careers. Drawing on her expertise in power and status, Chow seamlessly blends stories and science to offer practical guidance for becoming a more effective networker, influencer, and sponsor.”
     
    Katy Milkman, author of How to Change
  • The Doors You Can Open is a smart and engaging book that argues for a new style of networking. Chow’s concept of sponsorship is grounded in the idea that senior advisors should be more than just mentors who shape juniors in their image. Instead, they should shape how others see those juniors, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. Chow weaves research and advice together beautifully, explaining why sponsorship works and how to be a sponsor in practice. An excellent read.”
     
    Adam Alter, New York Times–bestselling author of Irresistible
  • The Doors You Can Open is a compelling call to action for anyone in a position of power who seeks to make a difference in the careers of others. By grounding her advice in both scientific evidence and real-world examples, she shows how sponsorship can reshape workplace cultures and open doors to success for those who need it most. This book is an essential tool for leaders committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in meaningful ways.”
     
    Linda Babcock, author of Women Don’t Ask
  • “Chow has spent her career studying how to break barriers, and her book is filled with engaging stories, compelling evidence, and actionable advice.”
     
    Adam Grant, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Think Again
  • The Doors You Can Open has been a valuable addition to our sponsorship efforts. Her powerful personal anecdotes and rigorous, evidence-based framework lend their weight to a common refrain I share with our leaders: anyone can be a sponsor! I strongly recommend this book to leaders at all stages of their sponsorship journeys to learn more about how to effectively act as a sponsor.”
     
    Miriam Warren, Chief Diversity Officer, Yelp

On Sale
Apr 8, 2025
Page Count
288 pages
Publisher
PublicAffairs
ISBN-13
9781541702752

Rosalind Chow

About the Author

Dr. Rosalind Chow is an associate professor of organizational behavior and theory at Carnegie Mellon University, where she directs executive education programs that advance the careers of Black and Latino professionals and advises corporations on their sponsorship programs. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their two children.

Learn more about this author