Our mission is to establish and nurture a program that supports the growth of participants along a core set of values: service leadership, content-driven knowledge sharing through a highly relevant intellectual agenda, and an experience-rich community.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR!
AMA Cincinnati is the essential community for connecting and inspiring marketing professionals across the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky region. And the bedrock of any community is the relationships that form and grow within it. That is why we’ve developed a mentorship program for marketers!
During the program’s launch year (2022-2023), AMA Cincinnati connected 12 mentor-mentee pairs. During the previous chapter year (2023-2024), AMA Cincinnati connected 14 mentor-mentee pairs. For the 2024-2025 chapter year, AMA Cincinnati is hoping to grow the program and guide 15-18 mentor-mentee pairs towards healthy, positive relationships.
The structure of this program is facilitating an application process for interested mentees and matching them with a mentor based on their stated strengths, passions, interests and/or areas of curiosity. There will be opportunities for all pairs to come together and connect, yet the shape and modality of independent connections between each mentor-mentee pair is up to the participants themselves.
The helpful content of this program encompasses regular check-ins and educational opportunities around career and professional development and making the most of mentor-mentee relationships.
2024 Participants
Read advice and recommendations from our 2024 program participants.
Claire Farrell
Marketing Director, Constellation4
For anyone eyeing a mentorship opportunity, my advice is to come prepared for your sessions. their time is important, so I make sure to have my reference files ready and some questions to dive into. Don’t be shy about being open and vulnerable—talk about your dreams, but more importantly, spill about the roadblocks, whether in your career or the mental limits you’re putting on yourself. Learning to navigate self-talk and communicate effectively is something you can pick up in a mentorship program.
Jessica Guido
Digital Communications Coordinator – Website, St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Throughout this mentorship, I’ve not only gained valuable career pathing advice from my Mentor but also had the privilege of sharing our respective journeys. It is not just the exchange of technical work skills but also the sharing of life stories and collaborative thinking. My mentor has played a role in empowering me to exhibit confidence in my abilities within the workplace. Her encouragement to embrace fearlessness and take calculated risks has been a guiding force, fostering growth. I am truly grateful for the mentorship experience, as it has been instrumental in shaping my trajectory and instilling a sense of self-assurance in my professional endeavors.
Julia Pegis
Marketing Campaign Manager, Mitratech
AMA Cincinnati’s mentorship program has been so beneficial for me! Being matched with a mentor feels like finding a trusted ally in the marketing jungle. It’s like having a seasoned pro by your side, sharing wisdom and insights tailored just for you. The connections forged and lessons learned through this program are invaluable.
Megan Torbeck
Director of Marketing, Larosas
So far this experience has far exceeded my expectations! I was always interested in developing a relationship with a mentor, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it and I didn’t want to feel like a burden, considering everyone’s busy schedules. This program, however, alleviates that potential awkwardness by creating a platform where mentors and mentees willingly volunteer.
Aimee Jud
Program Mentor, Western Governors University
“Live by grace, not perfection.”
I’m not sure who said it, but when it comes to personal growth, I’ve always had to remind myself that I don’t have to be perfect. It’s important both as a mentor and mentee that you commit to the process, but understand that you don’t have to be perfect to be successful.
Anna Campbell
Marketing Director, Corefact
Embrace the power of vulnerability and active listening in your mentorship journey. Whether you’re the mentor or mentee, be open to honest conversations about personal and professional growth. This means not just sharing your own experiences but also actively listening to your partner’s current and past experiences with an open mind and a willing heart. The most impactful moments often occur in the quiet spaces between words, where insights spark, and new perspectives emerge. In these moments of vulnerability and active listening, we can challenge our limiting beliefs, overcome self-imposed expectations, and see our situations through fresh eyes. This vulnerability and attentive listening are the foundation for transformative growth, regardless of your role in the mentorship relationship.
Brooke Anderson
Digital Marketing Director
Watching my mentee grow and apply some of the tactics we covered with great success is incredibly rewarding. On the flip-side, thanks to her, I even learned a great deal about an industry I hadn’t worked in before and the special considerations to keep in mind. The whole experience helped me remember why I fell in love with digital marketing to begin with. I highly recommend anyone considering taking part in either role to stop thinking about it and sign up.
Carol Olivetree
President, Olivetree Insights
For both mentors and mentees: Stay proactive. After clearly defining goals, mentees and mentors should take the initiative to find ways to achieve the mentee’s goals: think about them, research ideas, and get others’ opinions. In this way, the time mentors and mentees spend together is most productive.
Este Wolf
Senior Corporate Communications Specialist, CareSource
My piece of advice for those seeking a mentorship experience is to think of it as a two-way street where both roles help each other. Each participant has the opportunity to discover things about themselves and grow personally and professionally during the one-on-one conversations. The mentorship is also a great way to develop important skills such as building trust and creating open lines of communication with someone you didn’t know previously.
Gina Bonar
Founder and Chief Marketing Partner, 5 Whys Marketing
It’s really important for both to be clear and aligned that the mentee is in the driver’s seat, from scheduling meetings and setting the agenda to demonstrating accountability and documenting progress. Having at least one specific goal is also essential to being able to assess progress, value, and thus return on the investment of time and energy both individuals are making.
Robyn Hobson
Chief Marketing Officer, Remote Vans
Be clear on your goals going into your mentorship program. Allow room for flexibility, of course, but keep to measurable goals that you can regularly evaluate. It’s a great way to keep momentum, measure progress and acknowledge your achievements at the end of the program!
Suzanne Buzek
Director of Marketing, University of Cincinnati
“The delicate art of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” — Steven Spielberg
I like this quote because the mentoring relationships I’ve benefited from is when my mentor may have related to me or shared learnings from their life or career, but acknowledged my autonomy and what I personally cared about. I try to remember this in my conversations with my mentee, so I truly understand their needs and aspirations, and lend what I can to help them create their future.
Travis Nipper
Development Manager, Master Provisions
Be vulnerable! Mentors mentor because they care and are genuinely trying to serve their fellow colleague. The more context mentors have, the more perspective they can offer.
