Mentors Make the Difference

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Hey friend,

Welcome to the 26th weekly edition of Pillow Talk! This is where I share my unfiltered thoughts on life, business, and property management.

This week is episode four of Common Threads🧵

As part of the 2025 Leading Women in Property Management program (LWPM), each honoree answered a questionnaire covering a wide range of topics. We noticed that, despite coming from different generations and backgrounds, they share remarkably similar experiences and perspectives.

This series explores those common threads and shares what it takes to become a leader in property management 💪

Common Threads 🧵 Episode #4: Mentors Makes the Difference

If you don’t have a mentor, I highly recommend finding one. And I think you’ll feel the same way after reading this email.

Finding a mentor and investing in that relationship is one of the highest leverage things you can do for your career. If you need proof, consider that having a mentor is the most common denominator of the 2025 Leading Women in Property Management… By far!

Every single honoree mentioned having at least one mentor and they listed a wide variety of ways they’ve benefited from having a mentor. We went through each response and gathered the different benefits they listed. Altogether, we counted nine:

1. Mentors are a sounding board. They help you think through important decisions. When Angela Holman had the opportunity to buy an account from another PM, her mentors were an invaluable resource in talking through the high-stakes decision.

2. Mentors teach you new skills and expose you to new and bigger ideas. DD Garzon credits her mentors for changing the way she looks at property management.

3. They’re a source of encouragement and motivation. Melissa Sharone thanks her mentors for never letting her give up or stay stagnant.

4. Mentors boost your confidence. Jeniffer Ruelens said that she’s “been shaped by countless “unofficial mentors” along the way. Colleagues, clients, and peers have taught me lessons, given me confidence, boosted my ego when I needed it, and helped me navigate tough decisions.”

5. They push you to be better. “Some of the best mentors have held up a mirror and shown me my own imperfections,” was Kelli Segretto’s response.

6. They inspire you. Liz Cleyman is inspired by her mentors to pass on the lessons they’ve taught her to those she mentors.

7. Mentors provide a roadmap. Kellie Tollifson said that her mentors “have shown me successful ways to build our business whether it was answering my questions or quietly demonstrating how they interacted with difficult situations.”

8. They give you opportunities. Misty Berger’s mentor sold his business to her and stuck around to coach her in running it.

9. And they save you from making costly mistakes. Pam Greene said that “early on, I had a million “why” questions. My broker was probably tired of hearing them, but he had the patience to answer anyway, and that patience, along with guidance from other seasoned property managers, saved me from more than a few missteps.”

The Leadership Lesson

These responses teach us two things:

1. Having a mentor is a key factor in building a successful career. It speaks volumes that all twelve Leading Women (who all have very successful property management careers) have a mentor who they praise and thank.

2. Mentors are a critical resource for developing as a leader. These women aren’t just successful professionals, they’re also leaders in their businesses, in NARPM, and in the wider property management community, and their mentors played a significant role in getting them there.

I think it’s safe to say that if you want to be a leader, you gotta go get yourself a mentor 💪

Good night 😴

Lior Abramovich
Co-founder, CEO