Alumni Award Profile: Sarah Karges (ABJ ’15)
Alumni Award Profile: Sarah Karges (ABJ ’15)
Sarah Karges is the senior vice president of performance investment at Havas Media Group in New York City, an international media agency. As an advertising major at Grady College, Karges served on the PHD Scholars Program, a six-month externship and research project focused on Millennial purchasing trends. That project led her to her first job after graduation working on digital media buying at PHD.
In 2018, Karges joined Havas to direct programmatic activation, or digital advertising, for the agency’s largest pharmaceutical client. Currently, Karges oversees the entire U.S. programmatic practice across all clients and verticals in the New York, Chicago, Boston and Miami offices. Karges also regularly serves as a guest lecturer for Grady College classes.
In her current role, Karges leads a team of approximately 50 people supporting a wide range of accounts across travel, finance, pharmaceuticals, retail, grocery and more. Karges focuses on establishing streamlined processes, driving thought leadership, participating in business development, fostering innovation through technology and tools and building strategic partnerships to deliver best-in-class programmatic campaigns.
Karges is now being honored for one of Grady College’s Alumni Awards with the John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award.
The following are excerpts from an interview with Karges.
How has mentorship helped you through your career?
Mentorship has been foundational to my career! It began during my time at Grady, where professors like Dr. Strausbaugh-Hutchinson guided me through my senior capstone project, and Dr. King supported me through my first job application process. Those experiences shaped how I approach my career, and I’ve consistently sought out mentors as I’ve navigated new roles and responsibilities.
Equally important to me is paying that forward. I make it a priority to mentor team members and colleagues who are navigating growth opportunities, because I know firsthand how impactful that guidance can be.
What advice do you have for today’s Grady College students?
Take advantage of all the awesome opportunities through Grady! Two of the most meaningful experiences during my time at Grady were the Cannes Lions study abroad program and the PHD Scholar program. Getting to experience Cannes Lions as a college student was so eye-opening, and I talk about that experience even 10 years later with colleagues in the industry. I can’t believe I was able to connect with leaders in the industry while I was in college, it was truly the starting point for my passion for great marketing work. Additionally, the PHD Scholars program connected me to the PHD agency in NYC, which was ultimately the first agency I worked for after college! I would have never been so directly connected to the HR department and an agency in NY had it not been for the research program I applied to and joined during college. These experiences truly helped guide me to my career in advertising in NYC, and I am so thankful for them.
What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
Enjoy every moment, take every opportunity, and trust the process! When thinking about my life in 10+ years at the time I had anxiety about the unknown, but the journey has been so exciting and I am thankful I trusted myself and my instincts to get to where I am today.
What does this recognition mean to you?
This recognition truly means so much to me. When I reflect on my time at Grady, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities and education that shaped my path. Living and working in New York City had been a lifelong goal, and the support and experiences I had at Grady played a pivotal role in helping me get there. Receiving this award shortly after returning from maternity leave has made it even more meaningful. Stepping back into work as a new mom, while navigating this new chapter of life, has added a deeper sense of perspective and gratitude to the moment.
What skills and/or values and/or circumstances do you attribute to your success?
For me, it’s been a combination of positivity and proactivity. Early on, I realized that while experience develops over time, attitude is something you control from day one. I’ve always tried to stay curious, lean in, and be someone who looks for ways to help move things forward. This mindset has opened doors and helped me grow into career opportunities.
The 2026 Fellowship Inductees will be recognized along with the 2026 Alumni Award recipients during the annual Grady Salutes event. This year’s Grady Salutes will be a luncheon on Friday, March 27. Visit the Grady Salutes webpage for reservations.
Editor: Sarah Kate Maher, skm01341@uga.edu
