ULI New York’s Mentor Program is committed to supporting our ULI New York District Council’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative.  As such, we would like to remind you of ULI New York’s DEI Statement:

One of ULI New York’s key objectives is to increase diversity in our organization and in the real estate and land use industries. Our leadership is actively working to develop a diversity and inclusion initiative to increase the involvement of historically underrepresented diverse populations. We believe diversifying our membership, raising the profile of our diverse members, and welcoming their different perspectives allows us to better fulfill ULI’s mission of creating and sustaining thriving, resilient, and equitable communities.

The Mentor Program: 

Building a professional and social relationship between Mentor and Mentee is accomplished by meeting together on your own time. The more committed the Mentor and Mentee are to the relationship, the more satisfaction gained by all. The following guidelines have been established to provide all participants the most satisfactory experience.

• Meet with your Mentor/Mentee once per month.
• Establish guidelines for telephone calls and means of contact. Return calls and emails.
• Confidentiality is required.  Breach of confidentiality will result in dismissal from the Mentor Program.

Roles and Responsibilities in Mentoring Relationships

Mentor: As a Mentor, you will serve as the link between career goals and the realities of the business world for young professionals or graduate students. You will have the opportunity to increase the value of the New York real estate community by personally investing in future young professionals. We hope you will discover the personal and professional benefits of making a difference in a young professional’s career development. Specifically, a Mentor should:

• Work with your Mentee to set clear goals and objectives for the term of the program by asking questions of your Mentee.
• Provide guidance based on past business experiences. Share stories of your career trajectory, including mistakes.
• Take time to help Mentees learn more about your area(s) of expertise.
• Create a positive counseling relationship and a climate of open communication.
• Help Mentees identify problems and encourage problem solving for a variety of situations.
• Refer Mentees to other business associates if appropriate.

Mentee: As a Mentee, you will benefit from personal interaction with an experienced real estate professional. You will be given an opportunity to create and foster a relationship that you may keep for years past your involvement in the program.  Specifically, a Mentee should:

• Initiate contact with your Mentor. Try to use email as a mode of communication for scheduling one-to-one contact either in person or over the phone.
• Help shape the nature of the relationship—know the kind of mentoring you want and communicate your goals to your Mentor.
• Establish realistic and attainable expectations for yourself and your Mentor and respect your Mentor’s time and schedule.
• Solicit feedback from your Mentor on your professional demeanor and presentation.
• Come prepared to discuss issues at each meeting.
• Do not expect to find employment through your Mentor.

Mentor/Mentee Together:

• Schedule regular, formal meetings.
• Develop an action plan to achieve agreed upon goals.
• Determine the level of structure in the relationship.

Meeting Ideas:

• Share a meal or meet for coffee
• Discuss how to make decisions for the next step in your career
• Attend a Program  – attend a ULI program together and debrief following the event
• Site Tours – Explore a case study in person by visiting a recent project
• Professional and Personal Growth – Five and ten year plans, life map, etc.
• Share news stories – Email each other thought-provoking news stories
• Examples of topical issues you may discuss:
  1. The Real Estate Development Process
  2. International Real Estate (you can choose an area of focus)
  3. Real Estate Policy
  4. Commercial/Residential Real Estate Transactions
  5. Capital Flows
  6. Real Estate Operations