At a ULI Charlotte Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) lunch on September 20, 2016, women professionals gathered to discuss how we can help elevate other women.  A panel moderated by Amy Chiou of Queen City Forward, included:  Sue White, Donovan; Dionne Nelson, Laurel Street Partners; Debra Campbell, City of Charlotte; and Denise Dexter, JLL.  Four women whose first jobs were an ice scream scooper, drug store cashier, babysitter and yogurt store supervisor ended up as powerful women in the commercial real estate industry. How did they get there? The overarching theme between all of them was hard work, dedication and drive. No one was handed anything, they all had to prove themselves in one way or another.

Words of wisdom along the way of their careers:

• Having a mentor taught her to seek a career of passion and love and that you can directly impact the community you live in with a career in urban planning
• Always ask questions – it is the best way to learn and not a sign of weakness. Anytime you have the chance to be exposed to something new  – try it! Need someone in your life to believe in you and encourage you to go after it.
• Know your environment and the right person to ask the right questions. Know your allies that can help filter you to the right person. Build a tribe of people around you that will support you in your career.
• During the start of you career, you sometimes learn what you don’t want to do long term (just as important)
• Never know when an opportunity will present itself
• You will be surprised at how the lessons learned today can help you in the future.
• Reach out and touch another woman and encourage/help them. Often women tear each other down in the workplace – don’t do that! No more cattiness!
• Always over prepare because everything you do is a stepping stone for where you are going.
• You sometimes won’t love your first job, but you need to put in the time and prove yourself to get to the next job. People will notice your work ethic and rise you up.
• Being a mentor means being a confidante and sounding board. It also means that you need to allow the mentee to struggle a little bit. Don’t give them the answers…allow them to try and find the solution.
• It shouldn’t be about your next title, pay raise, bonus, recognition. You need to find out what you want to do with your life and follow your passions.
• The mentee’s job is to drive the process and make the commitment and be clear about what they need.
• Look for opportunities and don’t be afraid to grab it!
• There is no one accountable for our careers, other than ourselves.
• Advice for women/men getting to the mentor stage of their careers: Don’t get too far up the ladder without looking back and pulling someone up.

Notes provided by Emily Crandall, JLL, Charlotte, NC.