How do I turn mentors into sponsors who advocate for me?

You have people who give you advice. That is good, and not everyone has it. But you have noticed the difference between someone who talks with you and someone who talks about you in the rooms you are not in. That second kind is rarer, and you want it. Sponsors advocate because they have seen you deliver and because it is safe to put their name behind you. You earn that not by asking, but by making their bet on you look smart. Do visible work that matters to them. Keep them informed of your wins so they have something concrete to say. Pick one person this month who already respects your work. Bring them a real problem or result, not a request for a favor. Let them see you in motion. Advocacy grows from trust, and trust grows from being useful where it counts.