Our careers are not built alone. They are built through trusted mentorship.
Mentors don’t always take the same shape or hold an official title. Sometimes, they’re a seasoned executive who pulls you aside and tells you what you need to hear. Sometimes they’re a peer who shares a hard-earned lesson over coffee. Often, they’re the people who ask us vulnerable questions first, and in doing so, create room for us to be honest, brave and better. And then, when it’s our turn, we pass something back.
My own relationships with mentors and mentees have shaped every chapter of my career. One of the most pivotal mentoring moments in my life occurred when I was being recruited to apply for a CEO role I wasn’t sure I was ready for. My instinct was to count myself out.
My mentor wouldn’t let me. She pulled up the job description with me, and we went through it line by line. For every bullet point, she asked, “Where have you done something close to this?” Little by little, I stopped seeing only what I hadn’t done and started owning what I had.
By the time we finished, the truth was clear: I wasn’t reaching; I was ready. I just needed someone I trusted to help me see it and let go of the imposter syndrome I’d been carrying.
That experience still shapes how I lead. When I walk into rooms, choose boards or attend conferences, I’m always thinking: who can I bring along, and who needs that same nudge to see they belong here too? Because mentorship isn’t just something we receive, it’s something we practice.
Our leadership at the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, both past and present, embodies these qualities. As an association created by REALTORS® for REALTORS®, I’ve seen time and again how our leaders lift others as they lead. They understand that peer relationships strengthen our businesses, open doors and create a more connected, inclusive industry. That commitment is seen through those who have stepped up to serve.
President Lutalo McGee has spoken powerfully this year about creating youth pathways into real estate. And our Hall of Fame inductee Marki Lemons Ryhal reminds us that sharing our knowledge isn’t just generous — it’s necessary. Their stories reflect what we know to be true: no one gets here alone.
Mentorship has long been part of our association’s DNA. From our Leadership Accelerator and our Foundation’s ELITE Mentoring Program to our award-winning Young Professionals Network and many strategic partnerships, we’ve built and invested in spaces where REALTORS® can grow and lead.
If we want to inspire the next generation of real estate leaders, we have to show up for them with our time and guidance. That’s how we honor the mentors who invested in us. That’s how we build the future of this industry — together.
Michelle Mills Clement
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Association of REALTORS®