ULI mentorship program targets young real estate movers
The Urban Land Institute Philippines (ULI) Young Leaders Group and ULI Women's Leadership Initiative are bringing something exciting to the table - the first ULI Philippines Mentorship Program.
Officially launched in Makati last month, the program is envisioned to be an enriching avenue through which young individuals with strong leadership potential can gain a unique first-hand experience learning from the best of the best in the industry by helping them expand their networks, cultivate skills and develop their understanding of real estate.
It also aims to bridge traditional and new perspectives, foster ideas of innovation and provide mentors the opportunity to share industry secrets gained from their years of experience to these emerging professionals.
Mikko Barranda, co-chair of the Young Leaders Group (YLG), said other Asian countries like Singapore and Hong Kong have successfully implemented mentorship programs through ULI.
The program is aimed to be both multi-disciplinary and spread out through the spectrum. “It will give mentees exclusive access to industry experts in different fields of real estate and learn from their success and failures,” he said. “The mentors will cover anywhere from finance, design and architecture, real estate development and consultancy, and even technology.”
Ange Yapyuco, the other chair for YLG, highlights the ULI mission to bring together leaders from different fields of real estate. “The program becomes a unique venue for both seasoned veterans and young leaders to come together, to learn, and to gain a fresh perspective on the industry.” She said through this program, they can help strengthen ties in the real estate industry across all age groups.
Meanwhile Tina Samson, chairwoman of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), is pushing for this initiative to help educate the younger generation. “I’ve always been a strong believer of education,” she said. “I’ve had the benefit of having mentors during the course of my career. So I wanted to give back to society and provide this opportunity to the younger generation of people who would like to advance in their career in real estate - particularly with respect to women.”
She acknowledges that women in the real estate industry are not as recognized as the men, and this is why she intends to give that voice through the women through the mentorship program. The training it will provide will give them the benefits of not only seeing the industry through the lens of a leader, but also to see women who have established their name in the field.
Together, the YLG and WLI have put together a list of mentors – five men and five women, all leaders in their own field. The list includes the likes of Joel Luna, previously of Ayala Land Inc. and now the principal of Joel Luna Planning + Design; Bhavna Suresh, chief executive officer of Lamudi Group Philippines; Mario Berta, CEO of Flyspaces and Hannah Yulo, chief investment officer of Double Dragon Properties Inc.
There are more mentors ready to impart their knowledge to the chosen mentees of ULI Philippines Mentorship Program. Through this initiative, ULI will bridge the gap between experienced executives and future leaders of real estate by fostering an exchange of professional ideas. This unique experience awaits those who will be chosen from the selection process by the ULI committee.
Aspiring mentees between the age of 20 to 35 must show commitment, leadership qualities and the drive to advance in the real estate industry. Preferred applicants should be an undergraduate or must have work experience in the real estate industry or related field, including development, architecture, planning, government, transportation, engineering, finance, sustainability, and nonprofits. Those selected will have a chance not only to interact with the mentors, but also to see the organization of ULI at work.
ULI, as the preeminent multidisciplinary real estate forum, has always pushed for collaboration and sharing knowledge. In Asia alone, the institute already has more than 1,800 members – worldwide it has nearly 40,000 members.