Granular Mentorship Unfiltered: 2025–2026 Cohort

For the third year, we welcomed a group of Wisconsin-based college students into our Mentorship Program, a low-pressure, high-impact way to explore the world of digital marketing.

The goal hasn’t changed: connect with the next generation of marketers, give them a behind-the-scenes look at agency life, and share what makes this industry such an exciting place to build a career.

This year, we had our largest group yet with eight students who brought curiosity, thoughtful questions, and a genuine interest in learning how things actually work beyond the classroom

• Nathan Lampres – Marquette
• Jack Meninno – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Megan Koch – University of Minnesota
• Alexis Lonzo – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Olivia Wegner – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Andrea Yasinsky – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Stephanie Wilson – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Autumn Bongers – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Left to right: Alexis Lonzo, Andrea Yasinsky, Stephanie Wilson, Chris Cesar, MacKenzie Krantz, Emily Anderson, Lauren Roloff, Olivia Wegner, Rachael Beech, Nathan Lampres

At the end of the program, we handed the mic over to them (our favorite part).
Here’s what they had to say.

What was your favorite aspect of the Mentorship?

“My favorite aspect of the mentorship was discovering that paid media is the career I want to pursue. That kind of direction is hard to find, and I do not take it for granted.”
– Nathan

“My favorite aspect of the mentorship was being able to learn and ask questions about anything advertising-related without having to work there or take another time-consuming class.”
– Olivia

“I liked how each meeting had a clear theme, but we could also take the conversation in any direction. It made everything feel more natural and engaging.”
– Andrea

“Having conversations about current things going on in the industry.”
– Megan

How has your participation in the mentorship program impacted your personal or professional development?

“The mentorship program completely changed the trajectory of my professional development. It didn’t just teach me new skills, it showed me where I want to build my career.”
– Nathan

“It gave me a glimpse into how the advertising industry works in the real world and made me want to give back to the community in a similar way someday.”
– Olivia

“Participating helped me improve my resume, prepare for interviews, and better understand what to expect from the industry.”
– Alexis

“The mentorship has given me a lot of new talking points during interviews and played a major role in me landing an internship for this summer.”
– Jack

Did the mentorship program provide you with any unexpected insights or opportunities?

“I didn’t expect to realize how much I enjoy working in an agency environment. It showed me this is where I do my best work.”
– Nathan

“It gave me insight into how agencies communicate with clients, something you don’t always see in internships or classes.”
– Olivia

“There were opportunities for additional training, mock interviews, and even industry events, which made the experience even more valuable.”
– Alexis

“It sparked my creativity and gave me a new perspective on how to approach problems.”
– Andrea

What’s the most important thing you learned from the mentorship program?

“The most important thing I learned is that I’m ready to do this work at a professional level.”
– Nathan

“There is a lot of testing involved before finding what works. You have to stay open to trying new things.”
– Olivia

“The importance of building strong client relationships and backing ideas with data.”
– Andrea“

The true impact of experiential learning.”
– Jack

Who would you recommend this program to?

“Any student still figuring out where they want to take their career. This program gives you real exposure you just can’t get in a classroom.”
– Nathan

“Anyone interested in real-world marketing and advertising who wants to learn without adding another heavy commitment to their schedule.”
– Olivia“

Anyone interested in digital marketing—whether they have experience or not. It’s a great way to get practical exposure and build connections.”
– Andrea

Alright, we’re taking the mic back.

If there’s one thing we hear every year, it’s this: real-world exposure matters. And that’s exactly what this program is built to provide without the pressure of a traditional internship.

We’re not looking for perfect resumes or specific majors. We’re looking for curious, motivated students who want to learn, ask questions, and explore what a career in digital marketing could look like.

Sound like you? Stay tuned for details on our next cohort.

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