Unlock Your Potential with WCA’s Peer Mentor Program

Women Communicators of Austin’s Peer Mentor Program is a “win-win.” We offer a valuable mentoring service for our members. Mentees benefit from personalized guidance, whether through answers to quick questions, specific career guidance or longer term mentoring. Identifying peer mentors who can guide you for a limited period of time or for the longer haul can be the smartest way to advance professionally throughout your career. We also provide members the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise and act as a “sounding board” by serving as a peer mentor to help others members with professional development and career advancement. WCA Peer Mentors gain a chance to build their leadership skills, along with the personal reward of potentially shaping someone’s path to success. Have career questions or need deeper insights? Visit our Ask a Mentor blog.

Request a Peer Mentor

If you are a communications professional or college student, you can take advantage of this opportunity. No matter your age, stage of education, years of experience, or familiarity with other fields, you can accelerate your growth and learning with the support and knowledge of a peer mentor.

Peer mentors share advice, encouragement, and lessons learned through one-on-one conversations. Career goals, work-life balance, and professional development are frequent topics. As the mentee, you define the focus, frequency, and duration of the mentorship, in coordination with your volunteer peer mentor.

NOTE: Peer Mentee opportunities are open to members and nonmembers.

Read more about requesting a peer mentor.

Ready to request a WCA Peer Mentor? Fill out this form.

Become a Peer Mentor

As a WCA member, you are eligible to volunteer as a peer mentor, no matter your years of experience, your role in communications, or your familiarity with other fields. Mentees have many needs, and you may be the best fit to support someone.

Being a WCA Peer Mentor is a great way to develop leadership skills and build your network, while sharing your knowledge and expertise. This comes with the personal reward of potentially shaping someone’s path to success.

NOTE: Peer Mentor opportunities are limited to current WCA members.

Read more about becoming a peer mentor.

Ready to become a WCA Peer Mentor? Fill out this form.

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In addition to guiding me through some important decision-making, my mentor shared her philosophies on living a more fulfilling life and connected me to some really amazing professionals who would later help benefit my career. I also owe her for helping me find my calling: supporting the Girls Empowerment Network, an organization we both care about. I now sit on the nonprofit’s board! I am so thankful we have this group because it provides so much value to women of all ages. Everyone should have a mentor!

–Clarisa Ramirez, Digital & Social Media Lead, Austin Board of REALTORS®

How are WCA Peer Mentors different from my previous paid coaches? My WCA mentor is not looking for an opportunity to upsell her own stuff! In fact, she authentically enjoys facilitating my process and celebrates my successes. She suggests paths to take and teaches me without judgment. WCA Mentors are a smart and experienced group. The Mentor Program is a significant members-only benefit to further your career. It certainly has been a catalyst in mine.

–Reesa Woolf, PhD, Founder and CEO, Confident Speaking

I joined WCA when I decided to pivot back to communications after a stint in another role. The mentee program was a big part of that decision for me. The industry had changed so much, and I wasn’t sure where to start in my job search. My mentor helped me refine a resume full of experience into a concise, appealing summary of my capabilities, and she helped me define what I really wanted to do. After many months looking for a full-time job, I landed one after working with my mentor and I know what steps I can take next to find pursue my passion in the world.

–Jodi Gonzalez, Policy Editor, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

I chose a WCA mentor after attending a Careers Over Coffee meet-up. The group of women had great information to share and mentioned, “If you like this, you should talk to one of our mentors.” So I took the group’s advice. The conversation was deliberate yet caring at the same time. My mentor not only gave me sound career advice but help me discover the confidence I thought I had lost.

–Monique Carreon, Marketing Campaign Manager, ESO Solutions

Program Guidelines

What WCA’s Peer Mentors can do:

Speed mentoring.
Short term mentoring: Guidance on a specific topic requiring limited involvement – for instance, what subjects should a student take for a career in communications; where to intern; or assistance through a job application and interview process.
Longer term mentoring: students looking for on-going career guidance; professionals looking to brainstorm and implement career moves, discuss challenges at work, or find a sounding board for creative development.
Help mentees answer a series of questions to gain clarity on their talents, strengths, and career interests. This can be part of a short or long term mentoring arrangement.
Provide honest feedback about cover letters, portfolios, and other professional materials. This can be part of a short or long term mentoring arrangement.

What WCA Peer Mentors cannot do:

Provide professional-grade career coaching sessions. WCA has many qualified members who can provide that service.
Provide specific logistical assistance in starting or revamping a business venture.
Provide any kind of psychological input or feedback beyond a friendly ear and helpful suggestions based on their own professional experiences.

Meet the Peer Mentors

More than 20 WCA volunteers pitch in to support their fellow communicators. They assist you by sharing lessons learned, challenges faced, and resources discovered. They ask the right questions for you to consider. They are all ages and come from all fields within communications, with various levels of experience. One of them is a match for you.

If you have questions about the peer mentor program, please contact careers@wcaustin.org.

MEET THE PEER MENTORS

REQUEST A PEER MENTOR

Alice Walton

Alice M. Walton is a strategic communications consultant with a journalism background, specializing in high-stakes public affairs and media relations for clients navigating complex regulatory and legislative landscapes. Alice brings knowledge and experience on client management, agency life, career transitions and managing dynamic teams.

Andrea Exter

Andrea Exter is a seasoned publisher and project manager who combines her passion for storytelling, design and magazine journalism to create compelling custom publications. As co-owner of Monarch Media & Consulting, she leads with curiosity, strategic calm, and a passion for mentorship—delivering impactful print and digital content while fostering strong, collaborative relationships.

Angel Leverett

Angel Leverett is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Austin Habitat for Humanity, where she leads strategic communications, brand management, media relations, and community engagement efforts to advance the organization’s mission across Central Texas. With more than a decade of experience in marketing, public relations, and nonprofit communications, Angel brings a strong background in strategic planning, campaign development, leadership, and mission-driven storytelling.

Avery Bradt

Avery is the Creative Director of Blue Bird Studios, a boutique agency focused on branding and marketing for natural products, socially responsible companies, and women-led businesses. With 15 years of experience across agencies, startups, in-house teams, and freelance work, she blends her background in the arts with strategy and storytelling to help purpose-driven brands grow with clarity and impact.

Caitlyn Macaluso

Caitlyn Macaluso is a strategic communicator and problem-solver who thrives on jumping into new challenges, figuring things out, and making an impact. She currently serves as Chief of Staff at FVF Law and has held multiple leadership roles with WCA, including VP of Communications, Banner Brunch, and Operations.

Cindy Friedman

Cindy has 20 years of branding, integrated marketing, design and advertising. She specializes in creative/design direction: integrated/strategically marketing focused; branding: From startups to rebranding, repositioning existing brands, and developing brand guidelines, design direction, iconography, photo/illustration art direction and brand voice direction.

Diane Dean

Diane has decades of coaching experience, and certification by the International Coaching Federation, and is ready to discuss many topics and skills to help clients achieve success in their business or company.

Genevieve Britton

Genevieve, who goes by Vivvi, is a strategic healthcare public relations leader with nearly a decade of agency experience helping pharma, biotech, and medtech brands–from startup to Fortune 500–build standout communications strategies. With a background that spans education and tech sales, she brings a diverse, real-world perspective to mentoring and career growth.

Gina Son

Gina Son is the founder of Shared Affinity Communication, a painting artist, and a Korean and Japanese business language and cultural trainer based in Austin. Her career spans U.S. diplomatic service, global corporations, and international living across Asia (Japan and S. Korea), Europe (France and the UK), and the U.S (Washington, DC, Hawaii and Austin), shaping her expertise in cross-cultural communication and human connection. She is passionate about helping mentees build confidence, navigate multicultural environments, and communicate with authenticity and impact.

Jackie Sinex

Jacqueline Sinex is Managing Director at WEBii, a digital agency that specializes in custom web design and development. She enjoys over 25 years of experience in agency leadership and work in the website development field. Her background includes fine arts, creative design, web development, user experience, e-learning, agency leadership, and leadership in non-profit organizations.

Jane Baxter Lynn

Jane Baxter Lynn is an experienced strategic planner, facilitator and professional communicator. She has spent three decades in global, national and regional communications, marketing and non-profit management, and has a wealth of contacts and resources worldwide.

Jen Rios

Jen is an experienced marketing and communications professional and currently serves as Communications Supervisor at the Austin Board of REALTORS®. With more than 25 years of experience in communications, marketing, and book publishing, Jen thrives on bringing ideas to life, turning concepts into compelling stories that inform and engage. Her approach blends strategic thinking with a passion for clear, audience-focused communication. She enjoys sharing knowledge and helping others succeed.

Jennifer Stayton

“Morning Edition” Host, KUT 90.5 FM. Jennifer Stayton is a native Austinite with nearly 30 years of experience as a radio broadcaster. She has worked in both public and commercial radio as a host, newscast anchor, interviewer, news reporter, DJ, producer, writer, editor, news assignment coordinator, delivery and speech coach, intern supervisor, and (briefly) salesperson.

Karen Aroian

Karen is an independent fiction and nonfiction writing coach, book editor and ghostwriter. She is a trusted content editor for businesses.

Kerri Qunell

An accomplished marketing and communications leader, Kerri currently serves as Director of Marketing and Communications at The Texas Tribune, where she leads brand strategy and promotion for the organization’s journalism, products, and flagship events. With a career spanning leadership roles at nonprofits, media, tech, and education, she also empowers professionals as a freelance branding consultant.

Laura Bond Williams

Following a 25-year in public relations, Laura created a significant career change by forming a Pilates and fitness business, Mat Pilates ATX, as an extension of her coaching/consulting practice for executives in transition. As both a teacher and a coach, Laura support clients to navigate challenges related to their personal and professional goals and well-being.

Michel Hudson

Michel Hudson, CFRE, CEFL, has more than 30 years’ experience with nonprofits and associations across almost every aspect of operations and communications, and established her own consulting firm in 2001. She offers personalized support for organizations and their leaders that helps them cut through uncertainty, clarify their strengths, and navigate pivotal moments with confidence.

Paige Booth

Paige helps nonprofits, schools, and other purpose-driven clients define their brands, refine their messaging, and develop strategic marketing and communication plans to achieve their goals. Paige’s strengths are curiosity, pragmatism, and ideation.

Roberta Coffin

Roberta Coffin is a marketing communications professional who generates results by focusing on what are the needs, the pain points and the solutions. Her strategic mindset, empathetic approach, and industry insight make her an exceptional mentor for those seeking clarity and confidence in their journey.

Sandra Kleinsasser

Sandra is a veteran journalist and manager who left the news business to reshape a career that needed some fresh air. Now, she is a freelance writer, editor and consultant who brings news sensibilities to success stories, case studies and profiles for her clients.

Everyone can be a mentee.

Whether you’re a student or already working, a stay-at-home parent choosing to go back to work in communications or wanting to change direction, students and professional members can be a mentee (i.e., request a peer mentor). Learn more with our Demystifying Mentorship for Mentees handout. Ready for a mentor?

Meet the Mentors

Question about peer mentoring? If you have a question, Ask a Mentor by sending an e-mail to careers@wcaustin.org.

Everyone can mentor.

No matter your years of experience, role in communications, or familiarity with other fields, you can be a mentor. Mentoring can take place anywhere – whether it’s face-to-face over coffee, lunch or happy hour; video chat; or via email or phone. Professional members can mentor students or other professional members. Learn more with our Demystifying Mentorship for Mentors handout. Ready to become a WCA Peer Mentor? Fill out this form.