Winston’s Seventh Associate Sponsorship Program Cohort Begins Year of Learning & Growth as Our Sixth Class Graduates

On December 9, 2025, Winston welcomed 20 new protégés into the firm’s Associate Sponsorship Program. This year-long program is the centerpiece of the Opportunity and Inclusion Committee’s efforts to retain, develop, and promote our associates.

High-potential and high-performing associates in their fifth and sixth year of practice are paired with a member of Winston’s Executive Committee. The year-long program includes monthly meetings with their sponsor and participation in coaching circles, webinars, and “Power Hours,” informal group sessions where a few sponsors meet with all protégés about career growth, leadership, and navigating the firm.

The kick-off event in Chicago included the following:

• Welcome from Cardelle Spangler, Winston’s Managing Partner, Internal Affairs
• Inspiring Sponsorship by Dr. Arin Reeves, President and Managing Director at Nextions LLC
• The Power of Prepared Leadership: Managing the Unexpected by Judy Smith, Crisis Management Expert & Inspiration for the hit TV show “Scandal”

Prior to the kick-off event, our incoming protégés participated in a prep session presented by Diane Costigan, Winston’s Director of Coaching and Well-Being, on how to prepare for their first sponsorship meeting.

Incoming Class of 2025-2026

We also celebrated our graduating class of 2024-2025 at a half-day event, which included the following:

• Opening remarks from Sylvia James, Winston’s Chief Opportunity & Inclusion Officer
• Protégé reflections on what they learned during their year of sponsorship
• LinkedIn Optimization by Mark Reichel, President at Qnary
• Thriving in Chaos: The Neuroscience of Excellence by Dr. Arin Reeves, President and Managing Director at Nextions LLC

The following week, Diane Costigan, the firm’s Director of Coaching & Well-Being, met with the graduating protégés to coach them on the firm’s partnership process and how to carry their sponsorship relationships forward. Graduating protégés also have the opportunity to continue meeting within their Sponsorship Program coaching circles.

Graduating Class of 2024-2025