Real estate mentorship works, but don’t take it from us. These three rising agents shared with Chicago Agent how their mentors have inspired them, helped them and set them up to succeed, even in this challenging housing market.

Alice Jordan, MG Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago:

Alice Jordan noted the support and guidance she receives from MG Group founder and her mentor, Mario Greco, and how that can carry over outside the professional realm.

“Mario Greco has a high level of competency, execution and candor,” Jordan said. “It is inspiring. It is important to him that we meet the needs of our clients by being the expert, professional and fiduciary, it is never about getting his approval. I think mentorship is extremely important in general, and, when it comes to real estate, it is imperative. No two deals are alike, no two clients are alike, so experience, expertise and having a sounding board is extremely important in order to navigate the process especially with the complexities and even sometimes with the simplicities.

“The support that I received when my stepfather passed away suddenly means a lot to me and my family. Mario and the group stepped up to relieve me of a lot of the immediate pressures which allowed me to comfortably focus on my family and our new challenges. I still think about how Mario donated in his memory to the local dog park and didn’t hesitate to say yes to allowing the family dog, Benj, to attend our weekly meeting as I was making arrangements for his new life.”

Maggie McMillin, Main Street Real Estate Group:

Maggie McMillin called Main Street Real Estate Group’s owner and her mentor, Mo Dadkhah, an “inspiration” who helped teach her how to quadruple her business.

“The best thing about Mo is he is an extremely well-rounded person to learn from. Mo has scaled many businesses of his own and is an inspiration to follow after. He has taken the time to not only master becoming a real estate broker but also is well-equipped to give insight on the legal side of a transaction as a real estate attorney,” McMillin said.

“Mo has helped me personally scale my business over the years with 1:1 mentorship and coaching. I remember when I first spoke to Mo about becoming a broker, he got me so excited about the business and took me under his wing.

“After three years of being in the business, I can confidently say I have more than quadrupled my business since year one by applying the principles he’s taught me.”

Anastasiia Korinchevska, Vesta Preferred Realty:

Anastasiia Korinchevska explained how her mentor, Brad Robbins, Vesta Preferred Realty’s managing partner and co-founder, gave her an opportunity to thrive.

“My real estate mentor set me up to succeed by giving feedback and providing a safe place to ask questions every week,” Korinchevska said. “It is not easy to assess your activity on your own sometimes, so having a second set of eyes can be beneficial. Did I get unlucky, or am I giving myself excuses? Could that deal be saved if I did things differently, or it was out of my control? Are my clients not ready to buy, or should I pose closing questions differently?

“Having someone with years of experience share their knowledge, network and resources is what truly took me from a new agent struggling to find a place for myself in the industry to a volume-producing broker. I can now confidently help my clients with their real estate needs, all thanks to my mentor.”