Celebrating connection and growth at the 2026 Mentorship EDGE Awards & Networking Event
The UW Bothell School of Business hosted its annual 2026 Mentorship EDGE Awards & Networking Event, a night celebrating student achievement, professional generosity, and the powerful relationships that shape career journeys. The event brought together mentors, mentees, alumni, faculty, and industry partners for an evening of celebration and connection.
About Mentorship EDGE
The Mentorship EDGE program empowers students to transform their lives and careers through personalized guidance from exceptional business leaders. Over several months, students meet one-on-one with mentors to clarify goals, build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and gain insight into real-world professional challenges. The program fosters leadership, follow-through, and excellence in service — the three qualities celebrated at this year’s awards.
Dean Sophie Leroy thanked both mentors and mentees for their engagement, emphasizing that the core of mentorship is human connection and the ability to see and nurture potential in others.
“By being willing to mentor students, you’re telling them that you see their potential and are willing to invest in their growth,” Leroy said. “That simple act can have a profound impact. It builds confidence, inspires ambition and opens doors to opportunities that can shape a person’s future career.”
Leroy encouraged students to view mentorship not just as a conversation, but as a lasting relationship, built on trust and mutual learning She noted that by engaging in the program, students demonstrate humility, curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to investing in themselves and their personal and professional growth.
Recognizing Mentors of the Year
Two outstanding professionals were honored as Mentors of the Year for their support, encouragement, commitment, and impact:
Dan Baird, MBA ’23 and writer for UW Bothell Advancement, shared candidly about stepping into mentorship for the first time, initially unsure what he could offer his mentee, Ashley. He soon realized that his life experiences — not just his professional ones — were deeply valuable.
“I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up,” he said. “I always knew how little I knew, so I didn’t think I’d be the best role model.”
He ultimately joined the program because he saw few creative professionals represented.
“Ashley, you’ve been my mentor at times,” he added. “I’ve learned a lot from you, just as much as you probably have from me. And I think you are ready to be a mentor.”
He closed by humorously “knighting” her into what he called the secret society of mentors, reminding students that they don’t need to wait to give back — they already have something to offer.
Meenakshi Balasubramaniyam, board member at Mock Interview Express and founder of Career Readiness Platform, reflected on two years of mentoring students with unique strengths and aspirations. Her approach centers on grounding, resilience and thoughtful response.
“At the core of my mentorship is a message: stay grounded. Don’t let setbacks or unexpected turns shake your belief in yourself.”
She encouraged students to see every experience — success, failure or redirection — as an opportunity.
Honoring Mentees of the Year
Ten students were recognized as 2026 Mentorship EDGE Awardees for their leadership, persistence and excellence in service:
- Ashley Tsang — B.A. in Business Administration, Technology & Innovation Management; Management Candidate, UNIQLO
- Bhavagnya Somala — B.S. in Data Visualization; Consulting Fellow, Umbrex
- Colin Yuen — B.A. in Business Administration, Accounting
- Connor Huynh — B.A. in Business Administration, Leadership & Strategic Innovation; Business Development Representative Intern, Okta
- Eduardo (David) Aranguren — B.A. in Business Administration, Leadership & Strategic Innovation; Procurement Finance Analyst, Boeing
- Kayla Sun — B.A. in Business Administration, Accounting
- Kaylie Heshmati — B.A. in Business Administration, Marketing, Technology & Innovation Management; Owner, GlambyKaylie
- Maria Pledger — B.A. in Business Administration, Marketing, Technology & Innovation Management; Human Resources Rotational Analyst, Providence
- Phohanh Tran — B.S. Computer Science, Business Administration Minor
- Sumanth Bellam — Master of Business Administration, Technology; Senior Technical Program Manager, T-Mobile
Students shared stories of navigating early career uncertainty, personal challenges, and academic goals with the support of mentors who offered perspective, encouragement, and a safe place to grow.
Lisa Sharples, co-founder and CEO of Relish, closed with a reminder that mentorship doesn’t end when the program does. Many mentors and mentees stay connected for years through offering guidance, writing letters of recommendation and continuing to elevate one another.
“Sometimes the best mentors are the people who were just mentees,” Sharples said.
Join the Mentorship EDGE community
Congratulations to all awardees and thank you to the many mentors who generously give their time, insight and belief. Your guidance helps shape the next generation of business professionals.
If you’d like to be part of the Mentorship EDGE program, applications open again in fall quarter.
