Mentorship is a key aspect of any career path, but for women in the commercial real estate industry, finding guidance as they progress can make a huge impact, even if that means finding mentorship in an uncommon place.

“I just had this very quick realization that working for somebody who believes in you and who wants to mentor you and really sees you is worth so much more,” srmErnst Development Partners principal Laura Billings said during Bisnow’s Northern California Women Leading Real Estate event Nov. 7 at Chorus Hall.

Studies show women aren’t being put in positions to meet their goals of reaching the highest levels of career advancement in their industries at the same rate as men. Gallup research shows 45% of women would like a CEO or senior management role even if that requires working 50-plus hours per week, but women only account for 23% of U.S. senior business roles.

“In addition to job-related training, mentors serve a well-documented role in helping people develop,” the poll says. “They listen, provide support and trust, coach, and share advice based on their experience.”

And while many companies and industries have structured mentorship programs, it is sometimes necessary in the fast-paced commercial real estate industry to take mentorship where you can get it, Allen Matkins partner Nancy Lundeen said on the panel.

She relayed a story from early in her career when a senior attorney gave her positive feedback and how even that quick interaction changed her trajectory.

“A few minutes of this person’s time — he was not my official mentor, there was nothing official about it — a few minutes of his time made a huge impact on my career,” Lundeen said. “And that’s where I’ll just suggest even a microdose of mentoring.”

Additionally, women can look beyond their own gender for mentorship, even though going to a fellow woman is often the first instinct.

“He wants to get to know me for who I am and not what I look like,” KPF director Angela Wu said of late KPF President Eugene Kohn. “He wants to know whether or not I’m on this journey with him. He talked about his dream of a West Coast office and about all the more people we can possibly impact. Throughout the past five years, the very short time I got to spend with him, it was more of this very attentive mentor.”

Wu spoke on the panel about how Kohn helped her overcome her perceived shortcomings, including gender and race.

“All of a sudden I realized why I suddenly feel lighter,” Wu said. “I’m no longer fighting my shortcomings. I no longer have to fight my physical appearance that I could do absolutely nothing about.”