Marketing Mentorship Program

Grow your marketing career with a San Diego mentor.

A five-month program connecting early- and mid-career marketers with experienced marketing leaders.
Meet 2026 Mentors

The deadline to submit a Mentee Interest Form for the 2026 Cohort has passed.

Why participate?

Personalized mentorship.

Meet monthly with a seasoned marketing leader who helps guide your goals, growth, and next steps.

Career skills and tools.

Join cohort sessions on branding yourself, strategy frameworks, marketing trends, AI and leadership.

Community connections.

Get discounted access to AMA SD mixers, events, and peers throughout the program period.

Is this program right for you?

Mentees (Protégés):

  • 5 – 15 years of experience
  • Early- or mid-career
  • Working in or pursuing marketing roles
  • Ready to commit to monthly 1:1 meetings + cohort sessions

The deadline to submit a Mentee Interest Form for the 2026 Cohort has passed.

Mentors:

  • Director-level and above
  • Background in marketing, strategy, analytics, brand, digital, or leadership
  • Want to give back and shape San Diego’s next generation of marketers
Meet 2026 Mentors

What to expect.

Jan. 2026

Submit Mentee Interest Form

Feb. 2026

Get Matched with Mentor

Feb. 2026

Kickoff Event & Meet Mentor

Feb. – June

Monthly (min.) Mentor Meetings

Feb. – June

Monthly Cohort Sessions

June 2026

Final Pitch & Graduation

High-impact Cohort Sessions designed for today’s marketers.

2026 Program Kickoff + Mentor Meet and Greet

Branding Yourself: Crafting Your Career Story + Elevator Pitch

Interview + Leadership Skills that Matter in 2026 and Beyond

How to be a Strategic Marketer + Marketing Frameworks

Closing Celebration + Pitch Showcase at San Diego Chapter Event

Pricing.

$150

AMA San Diego Members

$250

Non-Members

$300*

with New Member Signup

*$449 value

Mentors participate at no cost.

Thoughtful Matching That Puts Fit First

  • Mentees list top mentor preferences
  • Goals, experience, and compatibility evaluated
  • Committee recommends final pairs
  • Board-approved before kickoff

The deadline to submit a Mentee Interest Form for the 2026 Cohort has passed.

San Diego marketing mentor and mentee

Meet your 2026 Mentors.

Learn from experienced San Diego marketing leaders across brand, creative, strategy, digital, and leadership.

Bobby Buchanan

Bobby Buchanan

President & Creative Director

Buchanan Design

More about Bobby

Bobby Buchanan

Claudia Chow

Marketing Manager

UC San Diego Extended Studies

More about Claudia

Bobby Buchanan

Suzy Garcia

Marketing & Communications Director

Voices for Children

More about Suzy

Bobby Buchanan

Krystina Gillenwater

Sales & Marketing Leader

Independent Advisor/Consultant

More about Krystina

Paul June

Paul June

Founder & CEO

Barrel O’Monkeyz

More about Paul

Bobby Buchanan

Michael Legat

Senior Account Director

MDG

More about Michael

Bobby Buchanan

Mike Matamala

Creative Director

Enlyte

More about Mike

Bobby Buchanan

Jennifer Pellegrini

Associate Director, Brand Marketing

Illumina

More about Jennifer

Bobby Buchanan

Daniela Ramirez, PMP

Program Manager

Red Door Interactive

More about Daniela

Bobby Buchanan

Jennifer Wilbur

President

JRW PR & Marketing

More about Jennifer

Frequently Asked Questions.

The program is built for early- to mid-career marketers with roughly 5–15 years of experience who are working in, or actively pursuing, marketing roles.

The Mentee Interest Form opens in January 2026. Space is limited, and early interest is encouraged. The submission deadline is Friday, January 30, 2026.

This pilot program runs for five months, from February through June 2026.

Mentees should plan for one one-on-one meeting per month with their mentor, plus monthly cohort sessions. Overall, expect about 2–3 hours per month.

The program follows a hybrid model. Some Cohort Sessions will be in person, at times tied to AMA San Diego events, while others may be virtual for convenience.

Mentees submit goals, preferences, and top mentor choices in their application. A committee reviews experience, goals, and fit before recommending pairings for board approval.

AMA San Diego membership is encouraged but not required to apply. Members receive a discounted program fee, and non-members may choose to join AMA for added value.

The mentee fee is $150 for AMA San Diego members and $250 for non-members. Non-members who sign up for a membership as part of their program fee for $300 ($449 value). Mentors participate at no cost.

Sessions focus on career storytelling and personal branding, marketing strategy frameworks, trends and AI, leadership and interview skills, and a final pitch showcase.

No. The program focuses on professional development, career clarity, and skill growth rather than direct job placement.

The 2026 pilot cohort will include approximately 5–10 mentor/mentee pairs to ensure a high-quality experience.

Ready to take the next step?

The deadline to submit a Mentee Interest Form for the 2026 Cohort has passed.

For questions about the Mentorship Program, please contact mentorship@sdama.org.