Goizueta Business School’s Student-Alumni Mentor Program has a long tradition of connecting current Goizueta students with alumni to build lasting relationships. For decades, the program has paired alumni from across class years with students from each of Goizueta’s degree programs.
In the 2025-2026 academic year, the program successfully matched 220 pairs. For the first time ever, artificial intelligence was used to create the matches. Historically, the process has been manual and time-consuming, requiring the team to read hundreds of descriptions of what students are seeking and what alumni can provide. Last year, a large language model (LLM) was used to parse the applications, producing suggested matches for nearly 85% of participants within minutes, explains Matt Sobieski 14EvMBA, vice president of the Goizueta Alumni Board and former chair of the mentor program committee. A team reviewed each of the suggestions to ensure the best possible matches for mentees and mentors.
I believe mentoring is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools we have to grow as leaders.
Matt Sobieski 14EvMBA
Long before the program began using the latest technology, it was creating matches that grew into lasting relationships. For example, Sobieski took advantage of the program during his time in Goizueta’s Evening MBA program, and he remains in contact with his mentor, Sam Bryant 08EMBA, to this day.
“Sam always texts me on my birthday, and that’s usually a reason for us to start a conversation and catch up on what’s new in each other’s lives,” says Sobieski, who is an independent management consultant and executive coach. “It’s a testament to the caliber of the Goizueta grad, and I know I have someone who I can reach out to for perspective when I am looking for it.”
More to Mentoring
Sobieski says it’s common for students to underestimate the value of the mentor experience or assume it’s primarily about finding a job. “I believe mentoring is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools we have to grow as leaders,” says Sobieski.
“Mentors help build confidence, serve as a sounding board, and can help build relationships and connections. Alumni are often looking for ways to give back to the institutions that helped shape who they are, and mentoring is one of the easiest-yet-most-impactful ways to donate your time.”
Nick Hajal 26BBA was looking for both a sounding board and a North Star in his mentor. At the time, he was staring down graduation and uncertain how to navigate a job search in an industry without a clear blueprint. Hajal felt lost searching for roles in public relations and marketing. He was seeking guidance and instruction, such as tips for interviewing and advice on networking—specifically from someone who had walked down the path in this industry before him.
What alumni have the power to do for current Goizueta students is understand. The simple act of saying “I remember being there” is what makes alumni mentorship so powerful.
Nick Hajal 26BBA
“How often is it that you get to have 1:1 advice and mentoring from a vice president at the NBA?” jokes Hajal.
Hajal was paired with Lauren Cohen 00BBA, vice president of global partnerships at the NBA. Hajal is grateful for Cohen’s willingness to share her experience rising through the ranks of the NBA and answer his questions about careers in public relations and marketing.
“Having someone looking out for you, championing you, and there to answer any questions you have at the beginning of a daunting transition like starting your career post-grad was priceless,” says Hajal, who is now an associate analyst at Burson.
Hajal says Cohen’s emphasis on Hajal clarifying his goals and ideal lifestyle was particularly helpful. That clarity is something Hajal will carry with him.
“What alumni have the power to do for current Goizueta students is understand,” says Hajal, who felt bombarded by well-meaning but unhelpful advice from friends and family from different backgrounds or generations. “The simple act of saying ‘I remember being there’ is what makes alumni mentorship so powerful.”
What Mentors Gain
While Cohen lives in New York City, she has been mentoring Emory students informally and formally through the Alumni Mentor Program for years. Hajal and Cohen met virtually each month and were able to meet in person when Hajal traveled to New York or Cohen was in Atlanta.
“I genuinely enjoy helping students grow both personally and professionally,” says Cohen. “Mentoring provides an opportunity to share your experiences, offer guidance, and help students build confidence as they take the next steps in their journey.”
But students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the mentor experience. Alumni often learn from their mentees, too. “It’s a rewarding experience for mentors as well,” says Cohen. “You’ll build new relationships with students, fellow alumni, and the broader Goizueta community, and you’ll often find yourself learning just as much as you’re teaching. It’s a chance to stay connected, gain fresh perspectives, and make a lasting impact on the next generation of leaders.”
Cohen says Hajal taught her the value of “listening first and guiding second.” It’s natural for mentors to want to start by sharing, but Cohen found it more beneficial for both parties to let the mentee speak first—about their “goals, challenges, and perspective.” What follows is a richer, more meaningful conversation and relationship.
It’s a rewarding experience for mentors as well. You’ll build new relationships with students, fellow alumni, and the broader Goizueta community, and you’ll often find yourself learning just as much as you’re teaching. It’s a chance to stay connected, gain fresh perspectives, and make a lasting impact on the next generation of leaders.
Lauren Cohen 00BBA
In addition to being a mentor, Cohen is also part of the Goizueta Alumni Board and served on the mentor program committee last year, alongside Sobieski, Jessica Chod 09JD/MBA, and Brandon Cook 23EMBA.
“My experience as a mentor helped inform the goals and objectives we set for the program, while my involvement on the committee gave me a deeper understanding of how to create a meaningful and engaging experience for my mentee,” says Cohen.
She particularly enjoyed collaborating with alumni from different backgrounds on the board and committee, saying that brainstorming together “can lead to a more meaningful experience for everyone involved.”
Ultimately, Cohen says the opportunity to be on the committee while mentoring Hajal reinforced how powerful mentoring can be—not only for students, but also for the mentors. “The experience reinforced my belief that some of the most meaningful ways alumni can support Goizueta are by investing their time, sharing their experiences, and helping the next generation of students and leaders succeed.”
Goizueta is looking for alumni mentors for the current academic year. If you’re interested in participating as a mentor, please reach out to gbsalumni@emory.edu.
