How Adweek Executive Mentees Are Paying It Forward

After a rewarding experience in the Adweek Executive Mentorship Program, six graduates wanted to take the lessons they learned and create a new initiative to empower the next generation of marketers. The result was Adweek Rising, an extension of the Adweek Executive Mentorship Program designed for professionals with under 10 years of experience. Founded by Melanie Behling, Global Marketer and former SVP at We Are Unlimited, Cory Bernstine, Senior Director of Strategy at United Soccer League, Kim DeRuby, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Keuka College, Jared Melzer, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Labcorp, Stephanie Nelson, Brand Strategist, Experiential Producer, and Current Marcom Consultant at CORE Relief and IWCO, and Carrianne Polo, CEO at New Park Creative, the pod-style mentorship program leveraged support from former Executive Mentees who became mentors. Former Adweek Executive Mentees like Kara Hendrick and Andrea Jackson jumped at the chance to pay it forward as part of the newly created Adweek Rising Mentorship community. “I was immediately drawn to Adweek Rising as it is an opportunity to not only volunteer and serve as a resource—but also a chance to connect and empower the next generation of marketers—sharing a bit about my own career journey (and missteps!) while also learning from them,” said Kara. Andrea noted that the Adweek Executive Community introduced her to many diverse and strong leaders that are not only generous with their industry expertise and experience, but also with their time, support, and empathy. In addition to their pods, Adweek Rising Mentees will have the opportunity to experience small group fireside chat sessions with advertising and marketing thought leaders. Mentees are also encouraged to take part in small group peer-to-peer conversations, network within the community, and offer insights from their own experiences to fellow peers. With the launch of Adweek Rising, many past Executive Mentees have shared learnings from their mentors and reflected on the power of paying it forward as inspiration. “The one bright spot in the middle of the pandemic was the Adweek Executive Mentorship Program and the group of welcoming, supportive, and brilliant mentees. Having a virtual community to learn from and grow with provided much needed light. My executive mentor, Allyson Witherspoon, US Chief Marketing Officer at Nissan Motor Corporation, inspired me to reach for bigger goals. It was this experience that reminded me how powerful mentorship and a community of peers can be for your career. I hope to provide a similar level of support and guidance to my Adweek Rising Mentees.” – Ashley Buxton Amazon Group Director at Initiative “My parents were immigrants from China without a high school education. Although my parents couldn’t help with career advice, like my mentors, they supported me, believed in me, and pushed me to achieve my goals. Mentors helped me through my first promotion, my first international role, getting into business school, taking a risk in startups, switching industries, and reprioritizing family in a hard year. I’m so thankful for all the kindness I’ve received. As the wise Eric Toda once told us, you may not be able to pay it back, but you can pay it forward.” – Lisa Fong, VP of Marketing at Osso VR I was excited to participate as a mentor in Adweek Rising based on my own experience as a mentee in the Adweek Executive Mentorship Program. In addition to the (obviously) great experience I had with my own mentor, I was so impressed with the passion of my fellow mentees who partnered together on a wide array of initiatives. Given that I was on paternity leave at the time, my personal life was a little hectic and I had to participate a bit more from the sidelines. Now, a year later, it seemed like a great time to reengage and give back to fellow marketers through the Rising Program.” – Adam Benaroya, Head of Global Media and Performance Marketing, Hewlett Packard Enterprise "I was a part of Adweek's first round of the mentor program and the experience was transformative and meaningful, both personally and professionally. The Adweek Mentor Program changed the game for me and my only wish is that I had gained access to such a great community earlier in my career. I'm excited to be a part of Adweek Rising and help build the opportunity and community for early-career marketers that I know I would have loved to be a part of when I was just starting out." – Kate Gagnon, Associate Director, Brand Marketing at OXO"I’ve spent my entire career walking into meeting rooms and being the Only. The only woman. The only Black woman. The only queer woman. The only millennial. I stepped up to mentor in this program to provide rising marketing talent, particularly QPOC, with a face in the room that they could recognize. I hope to be someone they can relate with, feel safe with, and ultimately grow with as well. Through our variety of collective experiences, we all have so much we can learn from each other. My goal is to impart as much insight and guidance as I can, while absorbing everything they have to teach me as well." – Chaka Cumberbatch-Tinsley, Social Media Marketing Manager, Stadia at Google For more updates on Adweek mentorship programs, be sure to sign up for the Inside the Brand newsletter. This Mentorship Program Wants to Help Women of Color Succeed in Advertising