Unlock Your Potential with WCA’s Peer Mentor Program

Peer mentorship is a valuable exchange that benefits both mentees and mentors, creating a space for shared growth, insight, and connection. By joining our program, you can either receive guidance tailored to your career goals or offer your expertise to others. Whether you’re seeking mentorship or ready to become a mentor, this experience will strengthen your professional skills, expand your network, and foster a dynamic community of communicators supporting each other’s success.

Check out our Ask a Peer Mentor blog.

If you’d like to request a peer mentor or to become a peer mentor, see the boxes below for more information.

WCA Peer Mentor Group

 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. (Login required)

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 30 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.

Alice Walton

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.

Anne Lasseigne Tiedt, APR

Anne Lasseigne Tiedt is an accredited public relations and strategic marketing communications executive who helps businesses solve their communications challenges and achieve measurable results within changing, complex environments.

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.

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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.

J Sinex Photo 2025

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 Headshot Photo

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 Photo

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.

LuAnn Glowacz

LuAnn is a freelance writer and editor. She loves helping colleagues who are leaping into freelancing/entrepreneurship and building an agency of one, particularly those grappling with choosing a specialty (she worked many years in PR before focusing exclusively on writing and editing), juggling work and family, finding and maintaining clients, and reaching profitability.

Mary Anne Connolly

Mary Anne Connolly

Mary Anne is a former journalist (network news producer and regional magazine editor), frequent PR pro and now media consultant for clients ranging from tech thought leaders to innovative startups to fillmmakers and authors to state and city agencies to global nonprofits. Passionate about promoting media literacy, caregiving, neurodiversity and the creative arts, she strongly believes in finding fulfilling, mission-driven work that utilizes our greatest gifts, empowers individuals, provides financial independence and supports the greatest good. As our world rapidly transforms and adapts to chaos and change, she believes we must as well.

Maura Thomas

Maura Nevel Thomas is an award-winning international speaker and trainer on individual and corporate productivity and work-life balance, and the most widely-cited authority on attention management. Her proprietary Empowered Productivity™ System has been embraced by the likes of NASA, Dyson, and Google. She is a TEDx Speaker, founder of Regain Your Time, author of six books, and was named a Top Leadership Speaker in Inc. Magazine.

Nicole Basham

Nicole is an experienced content strategy leader with demonstrated skills in user-centered information architecture, systems thinking, content engineering, process design and client service to make a lasting impact. She has worked in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, as well as being self-employed as a freelancer.

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.

Reesa Woolf, Ph.D.

Reesa is a TED Talk Trainer who prepares executives and ESL Speakers for leadership. She has worked with corporate leader executives and technology & sales departments in executive development and influential leadership for 25 years. Reesa studied in-person with the father of cognitive therapy Albert Ellis, Ph.D., in his 90’s and Ram Dass after he published Be Here How.

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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.

Sarah Parker Photo Mentor Profile

Sarah Parker

Sparker is an Editorial Director, freelance writer, and large dog enthusiast. Her career in tech spans back to the days when she was literally the intern running Twitter, and she’s used that experience to fuel running content strategy and production for startups, global corporations, and freelance clients.

Sharon Jayson

Sharon Jayson is a versatile journalist who can tell stories across platforms, with experience online, in print and broadcast. Her work has appeared in publications, including The Washington Post, Time, U.S. News & World Report, KFF Health News, NBC News, AARP and UT’s McCombs magazine, among others.

Ask a Peer Mentor Blog

Ask a Peer Mentor: Should I be asked to do two jobs at once?

Ask a Peer Mentor: Should I be asked to do two jobs at once?

It happens all the time. Teams shrink and the remaining staff are asked to take on more responsibilities, often without compensation. What is the best response if you find yourself in this position? Dear Mentors, Someone has left my team at work and they are not being...

Ask a Mentor: Why is my career stalled?

Ask a Mentor: Why is my career stalled?

Got your own career conundrum you'd like advice on? Then sign up for the WCA peer mentoring program. It's free to members! Not ready to sign up yet? Submit your question to Ask a Peer Mentor. It’s all about peers who care helping their fellow WCA members. Compiled and...

Ask a Mentor: How Do I Stop My Past from Catching Up with Me?

Ask a Mentor: How Do I Stop My Past from Catching Up with Me?

Got your own career conundrum you'd like advice on? Then sign up for the WCA peer mentoring program. It's free to members! Not ready to sign up yet? Submit your question to Ask a Peer Mentor. It’s all about peers who care helping their fellow WCA members. Compiled and...