ULI SAN FRANCISCO MENTOR PROGRAM
SAMPLE AGENDAS & COMMUNICATIONS STARTERS
SAMPLE MEETING FORMAT
The optimal configuration is an open circular seating arrangement. Every member should have
eye contact with every other member. The optimal location is where minimal distractions occur;
for example, a private room. Most forums meet for two to three hours.
It is recommended that meals and alcohol be enjoyed separately from the Forum meeting. If
alcohol is to be consumed, it would be best enjoyed after the meeting.
1.
Open Meeting (40 minutes)
 Start on time
 Review confidentiality
 Communication starter
 Review attendance
 Appoint timekeeper
 Updates (3–5 minutes) (generally not done at the first meeting)
 Review agenda
2.
First Presentation (40 minutes)
 Set up by moderator or coach
 Life Map (done only at the first meeting in lieu of the presentations/planned
topics)
 Presentation or planned topic
 Discussion
 Process feedback
 Break (15 minutes)
3.
Second Presentation (40 minutes)
 Set up by moderator or coach
 Presentation or planned topic
 Discussion
 Process feedback
4.
Housekeeping (10 minutes)
 Follow up with members
 Review details of next meeting
 Identify presenters//topics for next meeting
5.
Close Meeting (15 minutes)
 Get feedback by going around the room:
What worked?
What didn’t work?
What to do differently?
 End on time
From ULI San Francisco Mentor Jonathan Scharfman, 2010:
1. Overview of China Real Estate Development and Investment
o An overview of real estate development and investment in China, including
profiles of two projects (http://www.xintiandi.com, http://www.kic.net.cn) as well
as
highlights from Jonathan's visit to the Shanghai World Expo and his involvement
in the Bay Area Council Delegation.
2. Real Estate Development Process
o An overview of the steps involved in the real estate development process,
including site identification, due diligence, acquisition, entitlements, financing,
construction, leasing, marketing/sales. Discussion will cover real world examples
and highlight best practices and lessons learned. In addition, we may decide to
drill down into one or more of these topics in a subsequent session.
3. Real Estate Policy and the Legal Environment
o A discussion of policy issues, including land use, transportation, and national
legislation that impact real estate development and investment decisions.
Discussion will include the tax implications of the proposed financial services
reform legislation and how this will impact structuring deals and business
entities. Jonathan may invite a guest speaker for this session.
4. Site Visit
o Location TBD
5. Topic TBD by the group
6. Topic TBD by the group
SAMPLE LOS ANGELES PARTNERSHIP FORUM DESIGNS
Here are four actual overall Partnership Forum design layouts that moderators used in Los
Angeles in 2005.
Design 1
Meetings monthly.
Two speakers per session (outside and internal).
Internal presenters describe their companies and jobs using case studies.
Often, presenters invite senior-level managers/principals from their firms to participate/support
presentations.
Executive guests have proved very popular and have added to the momentum of the group.
The group provides career advice and has facilitated one job placement already.
Professional mix of group is excellent.
Geographic mix presents challenges.
Design 2
Meetings monthly.
All internal presenters so far.
Noticing “loss of zip,” so considering inviting external speakers.
Presenters offer case studies on real life problems at work, and ask for feedback on specific
issues.
Often start the meeting with a “what’s new” update, or another current events icebreaker.
Agenda is loosely managed and dynamic.
Quality dialogue comes from surprising places, e.g., icebreakers may take a full hour.
Lost a couple of participants early, but the group has not been negatively affected.
Design 3
Meetings quarterly.
All internal presentations.
Subjects are “topical” (as opposed to a case study or a company/job overview) and proposed by
the group as a result of interesting dialogue in the sessions.
Allocating time to share highs and lows of personal, professional, and family life.
Each session starts with an update in these three arenas.
Design 4
Met monthly to start; now every six weeks.
Two presentations at each session, addressing career issues and asking for feedback from the
group.
Meetings start with personal updates; this has not been the most successful element of the
meeting.
Initiated a List Serve to encourage communication among the group members between
sessions.
Networking has proved to be the most exciting aspect of the program for most.
The group has suggested organizing loosely structured social events with multiple Forum
groups.
SAMPLE FIRST MEETING AGENDA
Agenda ULI YLG Partnership Forums – Meeting of Moderators
January 16, 2004
I.
Introduction - Kevin Bender and Heidi Taliaferro
A. Mission of YLG and Partnership Forums
B. Presentation of Forum Rosters/Bios/Profiles of participants
II. Discussion of "Guidelines" for Forums - Bob Ruth
III. Discussion of Logistics - Kevin Bender and Heidi Taliaferro
A. Time (propose 6:00pm-7:30pm)
B. Place (office of moderator - discuss possibility of switching locations with other
moderators)
C. Frequency of Forums:
1. First Forum is January 27/28, 2004
2. Second Forum? Early-Mid April?
3. Third Forum? July?
4. Fourth Forum? October?
D. Tie in Social event in Spring with YLG/ULI
IV.
Closing
SAMPLE FIRST MEETING AGENDA
Agenda
ULI Young Leaders Group Partnership Forum
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Continental Development Corporation Main Conference Room
2041 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200
El Segundo, CA
310-640-1520 x227 (Alex direct)
310-488-8837 (Alex cell)
7:00
Forum Start / Networking / Pizza & Wine
7:15
Introductions / Getting to Know Everyone / Forum Business / Expectations and What the
Forum is All About / More Pizza & Wine
8:00
Presentation / Alex Rose - Thoughts at Mid Career / Remaining Pizza Crust and Last
Drops of Wine
8:45
Meeting Feedback / What did we do right? What do we need to improve?
8:55
Next Meeting / Presentations and Date
9:00
Adjourn
1. The Zen of Groups: The Handbook for People Meeting With a Purpose
©1995, Fisher Books, by Dale Hunter, Anne Baily, and Bill Taylor
A rich resource for Partnership Forum participants and moderators, The Zen of Groups includes
a 100-page tool kit with exercises to move groups forward or deepen relationships. For
example, one exercise is called “Mapping Your Network” that could be a conversation starter for
new Partnership Forums. The Zen of Groups is available at amazon.com.
2. Life Map Ideas
 Ask everyone to choose three “highs” and three “lows” in their professional and/or
personal life situations and share them with the group.
 Ask everyone to give a brief bio. Then have them share two highs in their life and two
lows or worries that are currently keeping them up at night.
3. Communication Starter Ideas
 Complete this sentence. . .
 Describe. . .
 Some sample questions:
What is your proudest career accomplishment?
What is your biggest career disappointment?
What is your dream? Are you following it?
What have been the three highest moments in your life?
What have been the three lowest moments in your life?
What is the one thing you are most proud of that you have accomplished since our
last meeting?
What is the biggest risk you have taken in your life? Did it pay off? How?
Who is your personal mentor? Tell us about the person.
Who is the person who has done the most to define who you are today?
4. Update Ideas
Have each member respond in the three categories of business, family, and personal by
answering one or more of the following questions:
 What is the best thing that happened to you since our last meeting?
What made it so important?
 What is the worst thing that happened to you since our last meeting?
What made it so difficult?
 In the next 30 days, what are you looking forward to and what are you dreading?