Every woman has a different story, goal and objective, say panelists at GlobeSt. ELITE Women of Influence conference when talking about mentorship.

BROOMFIELD, CO—Looking to be a mentee or mentor? Panelists at the recent inaugural GlobeSt. ELITE Women of Influence conference here in Broomfield, CO, tackled the subject with advise, the difference of mentor vs. sponsor, things to look out for and more. For panelist Kristen Croxton, SVP of originations at Capital One Multifamily Finance, your mentor is someone who is going to be your advisor, but if you are looking to increase your visibility, a sponsor will be more of an advocate for you and can help you find better opportunities and get you more exposure.

When it comes to furthering your career, Karen Case, president of US Commercial Real Estate at CIBC, says that what you do outside your organization might be as important as work you do inside your organization in terms of furthering your career.

She explained that on the mentorship front, most of the people she has mentored have been within her organization. She also says that if you are looking for a mentor, you should first think about why you want to be mentored. What are your objectives? Once you have those answers, she said, you can pinpoint a few people who might be able to fit those needs. “It is also ok to have mentors or mentees that think differently than you do.”

The worst thing a mentee can do, according to Case, is ask questions they can answer themselves. “Think about when you are having these conversations and what kinds of questions you are asking.”

For Hilary Provinse, EVP and head of mortgage banking at Berkadia, mentorship should be a two-way relationship. “If you are looking for a mentor, don't underestimate the value of what you can bring to the table.” And don't discount a mentor or mentee of the opposite gender, she added. “It is good to have those different perspectives…I have had numerous male mentors in my career.”

The biggest value that Provinse's mentor brought to her was a radical candor. “She would give me some really tough feedback. When you are a mentor for someone, sometimes the feedback is hard, but sometimes it is the most valuable stuff.”

Overall, Provinse said, every woman has a different story, goal and objective, so hearing how other women have managed is invaluable. “Peer mentors is another things that has been beneficial to me.”

Cherilyn Megill, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of marketing and communications at Phillips Edison & Co., says that it is important to learn how to take constructive feedback. “If your mentor is pushing you to try new things, that is a good thing. From the mentor's perspective, it is a good feeling for giving back. It reconnects you with the generation below you and helps you figure out what is going on. It is helpful to be able to bridge that gap.”

Continue checking back with GlobeSt.com for more from the inaugural Woman of Influence event and read other related stories below.

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Natalie Dolce

Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.

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