Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Mentorship program for mid- to senior-level professional women looking to break through the glass ceiling. Applications for the 2024 program are now closed.
Overview
Breaking the Glass Ceiling is an intimate six-month program that builds relationships and offers training to lead to further career satisfaction and success in the real estate and land use fields. It is tailored for women in real estate and related land-use professions seeking to advance by working one-on-one with senior leaders in the field.
Everyone needs guidance at critical career points. This is especially true for women in real estate navigating an industry that remains especially male-dominated. Led by Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), the program matches women ULI members with industry executives (men or women) for mentorship in career advancement and leadership.
Since WLI was founded in 2013, it has been adopted in 40+ ULI District Councils, including ULI Colorado. Opportunities afforded by WLI programs have helped double the number of women ULI members in that time. ULI Colorado’s successful WLI programs have included Emerging Trends in Real Estate, quarterly Leadership Connections, View from the Top, and Tools for Transformation.
Program Overview for 2024
- January-February: Mentor Outreach & Confirmation
- March 4th: Mentee Applications Open
- April 2nd: Mentee Applications Close by 8PM
- May 1st: Program Participants Reviewed, Accepted, & Notified
- May 8th: Acceptance Confirmation Deadline
- May 31st: Program Payments Due
- June 5th: Program launch event with all mentors and mentees, including an overview of the program, materials and resources, and mentor/mentee relationship training
- June: Mentor & Mentee Matches Announced
- June – November: Monthly mentorship meetings following the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Guidebook
- August 14th: Mid-program check-in with all the teams, including leadership training
- November 20th: All participants come together for networking and closing remarks on next steps in mentor programming and succession planning. We will also highlight successes and lessons learned.
Click here for program expectations for both mentors & mentees
Application Needs:
- Current resume
- Professional headshot
- Current professional bio
- Goals regarding the program
Mentee Acceptance Criteria:
Women who are mid- to senior-level career professionals with 8-20 years of experience in real estate or land use fields who want to advance to the executive level.
- You are a woman who has reached a leadership level of success within your career.
- You may be recognized for her achievements and may be seen as a respected resource in her market.
- You may have hit the proverbial “glass ceiling” and would benefit from mentorship to advance to executive levels.
- You are looking for growth in your skills as a leader, manager, and/or board member.
The program will help mentees with this transition to senior leadership, build their influence and expertise, and advance the mission of ULI as they becomes a leader in supporting responsible land use and thriving communities!
Upon acceptance, mentees must become a ULI member if not already, and pay the program fee of $450.
How you and your organization can help:
- Sponsor the program! Learn more about sponsorship opportunities by contacting [email protected]
- Promote participation in the program among your peers and colleagues who are mid-career women
BGC ULI Member Chair:
- Jordan Swisher, SVP Brue Baukol Capital Partners, [email protected]
Mentors
2024 Mentors:
Becky Stone, Oz Architecture | Bonnie Sen, BARI Architecture | CarloMaria Ciampoli, RIOS | Connie Rule, Mercy Housing | Dana Talarico, The Talarico Company | Darren Bruns, Galloway | Denise Gammon, Gammon Real Estate Advisors | Doug Spuler, Beck Architecture | Kim Sperry, Independent Consultant | Kirsty Greer, McWhinney | Kye Holton-Brown, Oakville Building Advisors | Kyle Henderson, D.R. Horton | Michele Raftery, 4240 Architecture | Nan Ellin, CU Denver, College of Architecture and Planning | Polly Jessen, Kaplan Kirsch and Rockwell | Sarah Laverty, EnviroFinance Group
2022 Mentors:
Jesse Adkins, Shears Adkins Rockmore | Jennie Rodgers, Enterprise Community Partners | Sarah Rockwell, Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell | Jessica Ostermick, CBRE | Kristy Greer, McWhinney | Dana Talarico, The Talarico Company