National Mentoring Month 2026: The Goldie Initiative Expands National Mentor Network with 44 Executive Leaders Supporting Women in CRE
Every January, National Mentoring Month invites organizations and individuals across the country to recognize the power of mentorship—and to take action by investing time, expertise, and encouragement in rising talent. For The Goldie Initiative, mentorship isn’t a seasonal initiative. It is a core part of how the organization helps women build long-term leadership careers in commercial real estate (CRE).
As National Mentoring Month 2026 wraps up, The Goldie Initiative is proud to spotlight a significant milestone: 44 executive leaders are volunteering as mentors for the 2025–26 program year, expanding the organization’s national mentor network and strengthening the support system behind the next generation of women leaders in CRE.
Mentorship that bridges education and real-world experience
The Goldie Initiative is a nonprofit dedicated to preparing women to advance as leaders in commercial real estate through financial and professional support. In addition to helping Goldie Scholars® succeed in real estate-focused graduate programs through scholarship, leadership development and networking opportunities, The Goldie Initiative provides a key element to ensure the progress of Goldie Scholars career trajectories: its Executive Mentor Program.
Through this program, each Goldie Scholar is matched with a seasoned real estate leader who provides guidance that goes beyond a resume review or a one-time networking conversation. Mentors help Scholars navigate career decisions, gain exposure to industry insights, build confidence, and strengthen relationship-building skills—critical elements for advancement in a field where women remain underrepresented at the executive level.
At The Goldie Initiative, mentorship is more than advice. It is a strategic accelerator.
A national network across markets and CRE sectors
The 2025–26 mentor cohort reflects the breadth of the commercial real estate landscape and the geographic reach of Goldie Scholars. This year, The Goldie Initiative recruited 20 new mentors, adding leadership perspectives from a range of CRE sub-industries, including:
- Investor Relations/Management
- Affordable Development
- Luxury Retail
- Investment Banking
- Real Estate Private Equity
- Many of these new mentors are based in key expansion markets such as New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., helping ensure Goldie Scholars have access to leaders who understand the dynamics of their local and regional markets—while also benefiting from a national community of experts and advocates.
A powerful sign of impact: alumnae mentors returning to give back
One of the most meaningful signs of a mentoring program’s long-term impact is what happens years later—when former Goldie Scholars return and become mentors themselves. This year, five Goldie Alumnae are serving as mentors, reinforcing a cycle of professional sponsorship and leadership development.
Their return represents more than volunteerism. It reflects a community culture of paying it forward, and it offers current Goldie Scholars visible proof that mentorship creates lasting career momentum.
A mentor match process designed for real outcomes
High-impact mentoring doesn’t happen by chance—it happens by design. The Goldie Initiative’s mentor matching process is intentionally structured to support each Scholar’s professional goals and learning style.
Scholars complete a detailed survey outlining their mentorship priorities, career interests, target roles, preferred sectors, and “dream companies.” The Goldie Initiative’s staff and Mentor Match Task Force then review the responses and identify mentor candidates whose experience aligns closely with each Goldie Scholar’s professional career goals.
For the 2025–26 cycle, the volunteer Mentor Match Task Force —a team that helps ensure each match is thoughtful, collaborative, and tailored. This intentional approach has consistently led to strong feedback from Scholars and meaningful mentor-mentee relationships year after year.
The leaders behind the mentorship
The 2025–26 mentors represent leading organizations across commercial real estate, including BGO, Cushman & Wakefield, Farpoint Development, Golub & Company, Heitman, Hines, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Logistics Property Company, Luxury Living, Merchants Capital, Pearlmark, PGIM Real Estate, Siegel Jennings Co. L.P.A., and more.
The Goldie Initiative continues to deepen its mentor resource pool—an ongoing community of high-potential senior leaders who may be a strong match for future Goldie