Women's Council – A Valuable Partner

Each August, our Women's Council chapters start to plan for the next year by sending their incoming chapter presidents to Leadership Academy. This premier training event, held annually in Chicago, is where we set our goals and objectives and review current goals that will transfer to the next year.

This is just one way that our National Leadership Team plans ahead to deliver the value that Women's Council members expect to receive from their memberships. As a member, it took me a little while to understand that value was not something that would be handed to me. As my participation and involvement in Women’s Council grew, so did the education I gained to be more proficient in my business.

Through the Council, I have at my fingertips a diverse national network of business professionals. These women and men have shared their referrals, as well as their expertise in a range of disciplines of real estate. We can learn from each other’s experiences and business techniques and apply this knowledge to our unique marketplaces.

I sometimes wonder how I would be today as a professional in real estate if had I not become involved with Women's Council. Would I have the same credibility? Would I have found the tools drive my success? Could I have had a better business partner?

Without the leadership skills gained through the Council, would I have increased my influence in the community or known the power of mentoring other professionals to their success?  To some degree, maybe, but not to the degree of empowerment I’ve experienced here. It would be like saying that I knew my city if I'd never left my neighborhood. 

My experiences with the Council are like many of our members' experiences. They speak to each of our core values: professional credibility, diversity, participation, success and influence. 

Involvement and leadership opportunities opened the door for me with the Council, but it has been the relationships that have kept me participating – looking forward to what I will learn next that will enhance me professionally and personally.  This is the value that is continuous.

On a related note, our Executive Committee has been working throughout the summer, with input from the Governing Board, to update our Strategic Framework. This document includes our mission and vision statements, goals, objectives, core values and the milestones that will establish new charges for our Strategic Forums.  As an involved member I am confident that Women’s Council will continue to provide for our members timely, forward-thinking opportunities for participation; top-notch education and services to enhance ourselves and our businesses. I cannot think of a better business partner for today and the future.

Deborah Tatum Gilmore, ABR, GREEN, GRI, PMN, SRES
Harry Norman REALTORS®
Marietta, GA
tatumdj@bellsouth.net