Notwithstanding that I’ve written more than once about the importance of being mentored, if you really want to get ahead, get a sponsor. What’s the difference, you might ask?
A sponsor is someone with power and/or influence. He or she may or may not work in the same company, but they’re well connected. A mentor is someone who’s great at coaching and giving feedback, can navigate the bureaucracy, and is usually well liked by people at your level. Most of the time, they work within the same organization.