UGA Mentor Profile: Hayden Galbraith and Mindy Farr (ABJ ’86)

Participating in the UGA Mentor Program has been an amazing connection for Hayden Galbraith, an advertising student, and her mentor, Mindy Farr (ABJ ’86), a strategic account manager at Wheel.

“[Farr’s] insights have given me confidence and a solid foundation to navigate my career path with more clarity and purpose,” said Galbraith, who aspires to a career in advertising after graduation. “Having her support and mentorship has been invaluable in my journey.”

This relationship provides Galbraith with applicable career advice she can take into the job search process – whether that be interview practice, career fair tips or refining her resume.

For Farr, this relationship allows her to give a current UGA student the advice she needed during her transition to the professional world.

“If we all took ourselves back in time, we’d see individuals who served as a compass in our careers. ” said Farr. “As proud UGA alums, we should want to see our graduates thrive personally and professionally in the world around us.”

Mentors and mentees are traditionally paired through the UGA Mentor program for 16 weeks, but the relationship can continue well beyond that timeframe.

Grady College: What motivated you to register for the UGA Mentor program?

Galbraith: My motivation to join the UGA Mentor Program stemmed from my experience as a college athlete at another school, where I felt limited by the lack of career resources for athletes. When I looked into UGA, I was struck by how actively involved the alumni are and how much they prioritize student support. This led me to explore the Mentor Program as a way to connect with alumni who could offer guidance, support, and valuable career insights that I hadn’t experienced before. It’s been a fantastic decision for my professional growth.

Farr: If we all took ourselves back in time, we’d see individuals who served as a compass in our careers. As proud UGA alums, we should want to see our graduates thrive personally and professionally in the world around us. Mentors can speed that process for them by sharing
contacts through networking, opening doors and refining their skill set making them more competitive. We can change the trajectory of their success rates coming out of UGA. Keeping what we have doesn’t benefit anyone but ourselves. The mentor program allows alums
to participate in unlocking opportunities sooner rather than later for UGA students.

GC: How has your mentor impacted your personal or professional growth through the program?

Galbraith: Mindy has had a significant impact on my personal and professional growth. She has been a strong advocate for women in the workplace, which has been incredibly inspiring and empowering. Beyond that, she has guided me through practical steps like refining my resume, preparing for interviews, and getting ready for career fairs. Her insights have given me confidence and a solid
foundation to navigate my career path with more clarity and purpose. Having her
support and mentorship has been invaluable in my journey.

Farr: That the practical and tactical skills of “business 101” are really the ones our students need and value the most. These are the areas that are not taught in the classroom…building your LinkedIn profile to escalate career visibility, resume edits and solid communication / outreach skills for interviews. I truly built a connection with my mentee that will last outside this program; watching the growth she has embraced and experienced has been rewarding

GC: What have you learned about yourself through your participation in the program?

Galbraith: Through my participation in the program, I’ve learned that while mentors are there to guide and support, the real work ultimately falls on me. I’ve proven to myself that I can juggle being a full-time student, part-time employee, a Christian, a gym-goer, and a career developer—all at once. It’s not always easy, but having a solid support system, along with my own perseverance, has shown me that I’m capable of achieving my goals, no matter how challenging things get. This experience has reinforced my belief in my resilience and determination.

Farr: I learned that the little things shared are big things to mentees looking for skill development. And that your time and investment is truly meaningful to them as a part of this program. I would not trade this experience for anything and look forward to continuing to support my current mentee in any way while being open to new students too. I learned that the little things shared are big things to mentees looking for skill development, and that your time and investment is truly meaningful to them as a part of this program. I would not trade this experience for anything and look forward to continuing to support my current mentee in any way while being open to new students too!

GC: What was your most significant takeaway from this connection?

Galbraith: I feel that my connection with Mindy will extend well beyond the
program. We’ve built a strong relationship, and even though she may no longer be
my formal mentor, I know I can always reach out to her for advice. Her support
has been incredibly impactful, and I’m confident that she will remain a mentor
and friend for the rest of my life. Having someone like her in my corner is
invaluable, and I look forward to staying connected with her as I navigate my
career and personal growth.

Farr: My mentee is an absolute rock star. She makes me incredibly proud to be a UGA alum and gives me a glimpse of the caliber of students who walk our campus today. The take away for me is that the practical resume edits, cover letter suggestions and “business 101” type interview skills are what she really needed in order to level up. These are areas any alum can share to accelerate student success through this program- and it made all the difference in her landing a significant Summer internship!

GC: Would you encourage other students to participate in the UGA Mentor Program? If so, why?

Galbraith: I would encourage other students to participate in the UGA Mentor Program. It’s an incredible opportunity to gain insights from people who have been in your
position and truly want to help guide and support you. Beyond career resources,
you also develop a genuine friendship that can last well beyond your time at
UGA. The program offers a wealth of knowledge, advice, and connections that
can make a significant impact on both your personal and professional life.

Visit the UGA Mentor website to register to become a student mentee or an alumni mentor. There are several dozen Grady College alumni waiting to be paired with Grady College students.

Editor: Shannon Lorusso, sel67411@uga.edu and Madden Callahan, emc50486@uga.edu