ULI Chicago Mentorship Program participants met on September 19, 2012 for the third formal program of the year. Mentors and Protégés took the opportunity to interact during a networking reception before hearing remarks from guest speaker Hill Hammock.  Mr. Hammock, a leader in Commercial Banking in Chicago, relayed his own experiences with mentors and detailed the benefits to his career from maintaining these relationships.

True mentoring is more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc advice – it is about creating a unique relationship and maintaining an ongoing dialogue. Mentors can help you set and achieve career goals, make well-informed business decisions, learn new skills or simply offer an unbiased perspective when facing new challenges at work.

In developing a strong mentorship relationship, protégés gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience, and in many cases a lifelong friend and potential future business partner. The takeaway: mentor relationships are a vital component to career success and the most valuable occur over a sustained period of time. The YL Mentorship Program has provided the Class of 2012 with this crucial link and unparalleled access to local real estate leaders.

ULI Chicago kicked off the 2012 YL Mentorship Program in April with 15 pairings connecting Young Leader members with ULI real estate industry veterans. Protégés and Mentors will meet at the fourth and final formal gathering December 6, 2012. We look forward to checking in with our Protégés and learning more about their experiences after the conclusion of the program.  Watch for upcoming details on the 2013 Mentorship Program!

Learn more about the ULI Chicago YL Mentorship Program

Authored by:  Collin Glancy, Director, Corporate Finance, Equity Residential