Cristina Mancini, the CEO of Black Girls Code (BGC), is using her leadership platform to spotlight an often-overlooked distinction in career growth: the difference between mentors and sponsors.
While mentors guide and advise, sponsors actively open doors — and for Mancini, a sponsor’s support was pivotal in advancing her career in the competitive tech industry.
Before stepping into her role at Black Girls Code, Mancini built a career that spanned the C-suite at major corporations, serving as executive vice president at 20th Century Studios, and later as chief marketing officer and chief engagement officer at Salesforce. She credits her climb to the top to the guidance and advocacy of both mentors and sponsors.
“I’ve been really fortunate,” Mancini said at the Fast Company Innovation Festival, speaking with CNBC Make It. “I have had some incredible mentors and sponsors that have helped accelerate my career.”
A Defining Career Moment
Mancini’s turning point came during her 13-year tenure at 20th Century Studios. In 2015, she was tasked with developing digital strategies to deepen fan engagement with the company’s properties. But there was a roadblock: the IT executive assigned to her refused to provide the tech support she needed.
“I was struggling because the IT executive that was assigned to me was not taking me seriously,” Mancini recalled. “I needed technology. I needed to test technology, and he would not help me.”
While trying to find workarounds, she caught the attention of John Herbert, then the chief information officer of 20th Century Studios. Instead of reprimanding her, Herbert asked what she was trying to achieve and began introducing her to key players at companies like HP and Microsoft.
That moment, Mancini explained, changed the trajectory of her career: “That led to me really finding my footing in the tech landscape.”
Mentors vs. Sponsors
For Mancini, this experience highlighted the difference between a mentor and a sponsor.
“Mentors listen and help improve resumes, while sponsors open doors, placing you in the rooms where you can build your own connections,” she explained.
Leading Black Girls Code’s Mission
Today, Mancini is channeling those lessons into her leadership at Black Girls Code, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping girls of color with the skills to thrive in the technology sector.
With a mission to help one million girls of color enter the tech industry by 2040, BGC has already trained more than 40,000 students through STEAM programs and workforce pathways for both youth and adults.
“I want people to know that tech is for everyone, and it doesn’t matter how old you are or where you are in life,” Mancini said. “This is an incredible moment in time where you can opt in and affect change at great scale, so there’s no wrong answer to how you start. Just start.”
With her own story of sponsorship and resilience, Mancini is working to ensure the next generation of Black girls in tech doesn’t just find their footing — but soars.
