Influence: The Invisible Power That Unlocks Sponsorship
By Dextego & Unveiled
Influence is often underestimated, dismissed as a “soft skill” or something you either have or you don’t. But as leaders, founders, and changemakers, we know the truth: influence is the invisible driver of opportunity.
This month, Unveiled partnered with Dextego CEO Ioanna Onasi to explore how influence shows up in leadership and sales, and why it’s the essential bridge to sponsorship.
When people think about career growth or sales success, they usually focus on the obvious skills: technical expertise, industry knowledge, negotiation tactics, or managing metrics.
But there’s one factor that quietly determines who gets buy-in, who gets opportunities, and who gets remembered when they’re not in the room: influence.
Influence is the foundation of sponsorship - the difference between being a name on the org chart and being the name someone champions in the room where decisions are made. And in today’s competitive environment, sponsorship isn’t just nice to have; it’s a career and business accelerator.
Mentorship Advises. Sponsorship Opens Doors.
Mentors help you think. Sponsors help you move.
A mentor might guide you through a challenge. A sponsor brings your name up when leadership is deciding who leads the next big project, who gets promoted, or who receives budget for an initiative.
~Sejal Amin, 'Voices that Represent' Podcast Episode 1
The reality is that the most pivotal career decisions of your life will happen when you’re not in the room. How do you ensure that your name is showing up in the right conversations?
Influence Is Quiet Power
Influence doesn’t show up on dashboards. You can’t pull a Salesforce report to see your “influence score.”
Yet it’s the unseen reason why:
A new manager secures headcount in their first quarter.
A C-suite leader gains board approval for a strategic pivot.
A salesperson turns decision-makers into internal champions.
Without influence, you can be skilled and hardworking - and still invisible when key opportunities arise.
"I recently experienced this firsthand while working with an investor. I hadn’t met him yet, but I didn’t wait. I asked a founder from his portfolio to reach out on our behalf. I also had a strategic partner reach out to him. I spoke to people who knew him before I met him to understand what would motivate him and what mattered most.
When I finally had the conversation, it wasn’t just about pitching Dextego; it was about aligning with his values, understanding his perspective, and showing that we had multiple trusted voices vouching for us. The deal moved forward not just because of the product, but because influence created alignment before a single demo."
~ Ioanna Mantzouridou Onasi, Co-Founder & CEO, Dextego
What Influence Looks Like in Action
Influence isn’t about dominating conversations or having the loudest voice. It’s about:
Reading the landscape - understanding who matters and how they see the problem.
Building credibility - delivering consistently so people trust you.
Communicating with intent - tailoring your message for each stakeholder.
Creating champions - equipping others to advocate for you in rooms you can’t enter.
In sales, this is called multi-threading: nurturing multiple points of contact so your success doesn’t hinge on one person. In leadership, it’s building trust across functions so you’re not trapped in a silo.
As a result, these touchpoints shortened the sales cycle dramatically. It wasn’t just about our product or messaging; it was about understanding the ecosystem, connecting with multiple stakeholders, and letting influence flow through relationships. Multithreading isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s often the difference between a long, stalled process and a deal that moves fast and smoothly.”
In sales, multi-threading means identifying and nurturing multiple points of contact in an account so your deal doesn’t hinge on one person. In leadership, it’s building relationships across departments so you’re not stuck in your silo.”
~ Ioanna Onasi, Co-founder & CEO, Dextego
How to Build Influence and Earn Sponsorship
Influence isn’t innate; it’s practiced. To build it, you need to:
Deliver visible wins - do great work and make sure it’s seen by the right people.
Invest in relationships - influence grows through trust, not transactions.
Ask for advocacy - let potential sponsors know where their support matters.
Be a sponsor yourself - advocating for others strengthens your influence network.
At Unveiled, we’ve seen this play out in our flagship programs, where participants not only sharpen their skills but also learn how to cultivate sponsorship for themselves and others.
Influence in the Age of AI
Dextego has seen firsthand how influence can be learned, practiced, and scaled - even in high-pressure sales environments. Their AI-powered coaching helps sellers and leaders rehearse stakeholder conversations, refine alignment strategies, and strengthen trust-building behaviors that directly lead to sponsorship moments.
Because here’s the truth: You don’t get sponsored simply for doing “good work.” You get sponsored when someone believes in you enough to stake their reputation on you.
And it’s influence - the quiet, practiced power - that makes that happen.
Influence isn’t luck. It’s a skill you can practice, refine, and scale. And in today’s high-stakes world, it’s the unlock for being seen, remembered, and sponsored.
Just as Dextego uses AI-powered coaching to scale influence in sales, Unveiled equips changemakers with actionable strategies to practice these same skills in leadership.
From Influence to Action: Your Next Step with Unveiled
Ever tried to break the cycle of being over-mentored and under-sponsored? THIS is your playbook.
We're giving you a tangible sneak peek into the actionable strategies that will help you bridge that gap, for yourself and for others!
Join us for an exclusive evening of drinks, light bites, and powerful conversations. And did we mention you will get a first look at the name of our book?!!
🔥September brings TWO powerful fireside chats! RSVP Today!
Beyond the Blueprint
September 12, 2025 I 12:00pm ET
Join us for a rare inside look at what it truly takes to steer biotech commercialization with precision, agility, and vision. Brandy Walton, Executive Biotech Commercial Leader and 2025 Unwind with Unveiled member, will be our guest for an exclusive fireside chat with Marydee Marchan, a Research & Development Expert and 2024 Unwind with Unveiled alum, that goes beneath the buzzwords of “execution” and “collaboration” to reveal the real mechanics of operational excellence.
If you’re building, scaling, or reshaping a commercial enterprise, this is your cue to lean in. Because operational excellence isn’t a process. It’s a mindset.
Beyond the Pill: Driving Health Equity and Finding Purpose in Pharma
September 25, 2025 I 3:00pm ET
Join us for a dynamic fireside chat with Naima Gibson, a pharmaceutical marketing expert and 2024 Unwind with Unveiled alum, in conversation with Brandy Walton, Executive Biotech Commercial Leader and 2025 Unwind with Unveiled member, on the power of self-empowerment and driving change. Explore strategies for career success, the importance of health equity, and how to leverage your position for good.
This engaging conversation offers insights for professionals at all levels seeking to make a difference in their careers and communities.
From Ideas to Impact
Every milestone we’ve hit this year - from sold-out workshops to powerful fireside conversations - shows one thing: leaders are hungry for more than advice. They want sponsorship, strategy, and systems that unlock real opportunity.
That’s why strategic partnerships and collaborations matter. They also drive Unveiled's impact as an innovator and thought leader, and they fuel the ecosystem that allows us to expand our programs, amplify voices, and create pathways for leaders to thrive.
And this is where you come in.
Become a Member: Join our growing community and unlock exclusive events, discounts, and access.
Donate: Every contribution fuels new programs and supports equitable access for leaders everywhere.
Partner with Us: Collaborate on workshops, events, or sponsorships that align with your values.
If influence is the power, Unveiled is the practice ground. Join us at our upcoming New York City event 'Unveiled & Unscripted: A First Look', fireside chats, and programs where we don’t just talk about leadership - we build it.
💫Momentum doesn’t wait. Influence won’t wait. Neither should you.
Disclaimer: Opinions here are like a diverse buffet – everyone's got their own flavor. Unveiled is the rebel chef in this kitchen, proudly independent and not tied to any entities or corporations. We're not serving up official stances, just a potluck of personal perspectives. Chew on that and feel free to spice it up with your own insights. We're all about transparency and improvement, so dish out that constructive feedback!
Ioanna Onasi (guest writer) is the Founder & CEO of Dextego, an AI company redefining how modern teams build human-centered skills at scale. With a background in psychology, rhetoric, strategic management, and talent development, she brings a cross-disciplinary lens to the future of work. Her mission is to close the gap between performance and potential by making coaching more intelligent, personalized, and scalable. As an internationally recognized thought leader and award-winning public speaker, Ioanna helps organizations future-proof their people, developing the skills machines can’t replace: empathy, adaptability, and trust.
Sahana Mukherjee, Founder & President of Unveiled - Bridging the Gap Corp, is a visionary executive who drives transformative strategies at the intersection of technology, business, and human capital, leveraging data-driven solutions and scalable talent models to optimize growth and agility. A sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader, Sahana has been recognized among Women We Admire’s 2024 Top 50 Women Leaders in New York and Crain’s NY 2022 Notable HR Leaders. She frequently speaks on enabling digital transformation, sustainable talent strategies, and leadership innovation. With a Bachelor’s in Applied Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering and a Master’s in HR Management, Sahana blends deep technical expertise with bold, data-driven leadership to drive lasting industry impact.