Melanie Wolfe rose from mentee to mentor in diversity program aiming to assist commercial real estate entrants.
Melanie Wolfe, vice president of office leasing for JLL, poses for a portrait at JLL’s Midtown office on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Melanie Wolfe knew she had to overcome an obstacle many young people face early in their careers: Building relationships in an industry defined by who you know.
She notes that women and people of color have historically not been afforded as much opportunity to build those bonds in her field, commercial real estate, which is predominantly white and male. In cities like Atlanta, inking deals can rely on knowing the right people or on multigenerational relationships.
Wolfe said what truly opened those doors for her was a diversity program established by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors aimed at supporting the sector’s next generation.
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Melanie Wolfe, vice president of office leasing for JLL, poses for a portrait at JLL Midtown office on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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The 2026 class of mentees takes a Chicago River architecture tour during a late August 2026 trip by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. (Courtesy of Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors)
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Melanie Wolfe, vice president of office leasing for JLL, poses for a portrait at JLL Midtown office on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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The 2026 class of mentees stands atop the Skydeck Chicago observation deck during an Aug. 27, 2026 trip by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. (Courtesy of Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors)
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Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He’s been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people’s lives.