By Erin Krueger

In my industry, maintenance is a must.

Nothing deteriorates faster than an abandoned building—except perhaps an underappreciated team living in what I call a “Lone Ranger culture.” When people are left to navigate their careers without guidance, support, or investment, even the best talent can fade. That’s why mentorship isn’t just something I’ve benefited from — it’s something I intentionally build into the very fabric of my business.

When I started my career in real estate, I didn’t try to figure it all out alone. The first thing I did was call someone who could help.

“I’m going to get my real estate license,” I told Susan. “Will you mentor me?”

She said yes. And for the next six months, Susan showed me the ropes of real estate. At the same time, Ed—a business coach I’d met over coffee—met with me monthly to challenge me, encourage me, and teach me how to navigate business leadership with integrity. The lessons I learned in those early days about integrity and building a strong support system have carried me ever since.

Mentorship Builds a “We” Culture

Even before real estate, back when I worked in advertising, I saw the power of mentorship. As a senior account executive it took on the role of managing the interns, I made it my mission to help them feel part of something bigger than just “fetching coffee.” I wanted them to feel empowered, to contribute, and to know their work mattered.

That same mentality followed me into building my real estate team. My goal was simple: create a “we” culture, not a “me” culture. When junior agents joined my team, I never wanted them to feel like they worked for me. I wanted them to feel like we were building something together. That “we” were working together. 

Mentorship creates that kind of culture. It builds trust, confidence, and collaboration. It teaches people that their voice matters—whether they’ve been in the business twenty years or twenty days.

The Ripple Effect of Mentorship

One of my favorite stories comes from a team member named Lindsey. When she first joined, she was quiet—often hesitant to speak up in meetings. But being surrounded by a culture of encouragement and mentorship gave her the confidence to use her voice. Eventually, she found herself speaking up, even in rooms full of senior leaders to bring an idea to the table that had a lasting impact on my company. 

That’s the kind of transformation mentorship creates—not just stronger employees, but stronger people.

“Mentoring creates a space where people can share freely,” I write in Capture the Culture.
“Whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea, they realize it needs to be shared. Someone else on the team might be able to build on it, and no one worries about not getting credit.”

When people feel empowered to contribute without fear of failure or competition, innovation thrives. That’s how great teams grow.

Why Mentorship is a Growth Strategy

As my team grew, maintaining culture became more challenging. In the early days, when it was just a few of us, it was easy to stay close-knit. But as we expanded, I had moments when I questioned whether growth was worth the risk of losing our culture.

But I’ve learned that when you build a culture rooted in mentorship, growth actually strengthens your culture—because every new person is brought into an environment where people lift one another up.

How to Find a Mentor

If you’re seeking a mentor, start by identifying someone who:

• Models the kind of integrity you admire.
  
• Has experience in areas you want to grow.
  
• Is willing to give you honest, constructive feedback.
  
• Is consistent—even a little time regularly can make a big difference.
  

Be bold and ask. You might be surprised how willing people are to invest when they see your commitment to learning.

How to Be a Mentor That Moves the Needle

If you’re in a position to mentor others, remember:

• Create space. Invite your mentees to share, contribute, and fail safely.
  
• Encourage. Confidence is built by hearing, “You’ve got this.”
  
• Challenge. Growth comes from being stretched.
  
• Model integrity. More than what you say, people are watching who you are.
  

Mentorship is Culture in Action

At the end of the day, mentorship isn’t an extra task for leaders—it’s one of the most strategic ways to build a healthy, thriving culture. When you invest in your people, you’re not just developing stronger employees. You’re building a team that supports one another, collaborates openly, and drives the business forward together.

That’s how mentorship moves the needle.