May 7, 2025
Business student discovered the power of a mentor. Now he mentors others
Starting university can feel like stepping into the unknown — filled with countless paths to explore, but with no clear map to follow.
Landon King knew that feeling as a student at the Haskayne School of Business.
In his third year, he took a chance and joined a case competition — and everything changed.
Today, he passes on the wisdom of mentors to the next generation, helping students find clarity and confidence in their own career choices.
It started with stepping outside his comfort zone
Originally set on a career in wealth management, King joined the Westman Centre Real Estate Case Competition in 2018 with a goal of expanding his horizons.
Participants analyzed a real-world property, then pitched development strategies to industry leaders. It wasn’t easy.
“I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into,” King says.
He was overwhelmed by new terminology and complex cash flow models. But he stuck with it, learning fast with guidance from mentors.
Confidence grows with success
All the effort paid off. King’s confidence and knowledge grew as his team won awards. And his success lit a spark that would reshape his career goals entirely.
“The more you get involved, the more paths you realize are available to you,” King says.
Through the first case competition, he secured an internship with Crombie REIT, one of Canada's leading real estate investment trusts.
From there, King set his sights on a career in commercial real estate.
Kyle Sieben, Communications
Giving back to a program that shaped his journey
After graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, he returned as a mentor. More case competition awards followed.
“It’s a good full-circle moment when you see students in the same position as you,” King says. “I’ve been in those shoes before.”
His philosophy is simple:
- Be empathetic
- Offer steady encouragement
- Help students recognize their growth and potential
“I try to just keep encouraging them and to let them know they may not know everything right now, but, by the end of the three weeks, they will,” King says.
Mentorship in other ways
King also volunteers with the BMO Mentorship Program, which connects students directly with industry professionals.
Over coffee, Zoom or phone, students gain insights they won’t find in textbooks.
King urges other alumni to get involved. The benefits are significant.
“If there are no industry professionals willing to connect with these students, then the students don’t have that opportunity to learn from them,” he says.
Winners of the 2025 Westman Centre Real Estate Case Competition celebrate first place. From left: Reef Loubani, Ibrahim Taleb, Vininder Dhillon, Sahar Hammoud, Connor Powell, Stephen Zymela, with mentor Landon King.
Omar Abdelwahhab
You can help, too
By mentoring students, King continues to learn and grow — bringing those lessons into his own work as an office leasing advisor at Colliers, Canada’s largest commercial real estate services provider.
“I get to learn more about what’s going on in the classroom and new trends coming out of the university,” he says. “I learn just as much from them as they learn from me.”
Sign up to mentor a team in the 2026 Westman Centre Real Estate Case Competition or become a BMO mentor today.
Who we are
Professional training: The Westman Centre Real Estate Case Competition builds bridges between academic theory and industry practice, preparing the next generation of real estate professionals. The Centre is hosted by the Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies at the Haskayne School of Business.
Developing purpose-driven leadership: The BMO Mentorship Program connects students with seasoned industry professionals and offers experiential learning opportunities. The Centre is run by the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership in Business at the Haskayne School of Business.