AUGUST 24, 2020
Each year, in addition to providing scholarship and mentorship opportunities for women starting careers in commercial real estate, The Goldie Initiative names a Shero: a woman in CRE who sets an example and changes corporate culture to support women in the industry. This year’s Shero, Lynn Reich, SIOR, CCIM, executive vice president, Colliers International, will be honored at the virtual Goldie Gala on September 17.
We caught up with Reich and her former mentee, Alexandra Jimenez-Franke, project manager, Johnson & Jennings General Contracting, about the importance of mentoring.
How did you benefit from your mentor/mentee relationship?
Alexandra Jimenez-Franke (Alex): I benefited both professionally and personally—in Lynn, I have a mentor and a friend for life. Throughout my time in The Goldie Initiative, I faced some personal and professional challenges, and Lynn supported me through all of it.
Lynn Reich, SIOR (Lynn): I agree with Alex that I now have both a long-lasting friend and business relationship. I also learned about myself, and that I have something to give in a mentorship role. I realized I could use my experiences in business and in life to help Alex through her own journey.
What else did you enjoy or get out of being involved with The Goldie Initiative?
Alex: I appreciated getting to know the other women in the program: the board members, the other scholars and mentors and Goldie herself. When I considered moving from property management to project management, I had lunch with a fellow scholar in project management and she answered all my questions and got me in contact with her network, which helped me make that transition.
Lynn: I’ve known Goldie for decades—but getting more involved allowed me to create an impactful mentor relationship that I hadn’t experienced before.
Why have you invested time in helping women in commercial real estate?
Lynn: I didn’t have the benefit of a women-focused network when I started out in real estate 40 years ago, so I’m very interested in providing that support today. Additionally, investing time in developing young talent is beneficial not just on the individual level, but also for any company.
Alex: I agree. I’m just in the beginning of my journey as a mentor, but I aspire to continue what Lynn and other mentors have done for younger generations of women in CRE.
What advice do you have for women just starting out in commercial real estate?
Lynn: We’re in such a challenging, uncertain time that there isn’t a playbook for what to do right now. Because of that, I think it’s important to work for a company that’s willing to invest in you. I would also advise women just starting out to be flexible and open to every new challenge and learn wherever possible.
Alex: The learning component is really important—you have to be open-minded, and willing to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. You need to make things happen for yourself, you can’t just sit back and expect things to happen for you.
This years Goldie Gala was held on September 17, 2020.