A Farewell From Your 2022 National President

Dear Friends,

2022 has been a whirlwind year for Women’s Council and it has been my honor to lead our beloved organization as well as to represent all of you. I am proud, grateful and humbled to have served our organization and our members, and will look back on this year fondly, having spent time with so many of our 12,000+ members, knowing that we were in this together.

First, THANK YOU! 2022 has had its challenges as we continued adjusting from our virtual gatherings to hybrid, to better meet the needs of our members. Our networks are stronger than ever, and that’s due to the hard work of our network leaders and our network members. The Ripple Effect is alive and well within our Women’s Council family.

We started last November at our first in-person national meeting since the pandemic, and boy did all of you show up! San Diego’s kick-off to our leadership year was phenomenal - the business-building, skill-building, networking, network-building, and opportunity to simply gather after so long, made for an amazing experience for all of our members. It’s a week that makes my personal highlight reel and that only continued as I traveled our great nation and visited 11 states and 13 local networks. Our time together at network events kept me going all year as we weathered the great days and even a few not-so-great days. Through it all, we stood strong, together.

From our Local Networks and State Networks, to our Local Presidents, State Presidents, State Liaisons and National Liaisons, to our National Governing Board, National Executive Committee and our National Leadership Team, we have all toiled, exhibiting tenacity, vulnerability, and dare I say, steel, to provide for our members. I applaud all of our leaders. I am not able to fully express my depth of pride, watching all of you grow within your positions. The Women’s Council Culture is thriving, with great thanks to all of you.

To our National Staff, our unsung heroes, who handle our business with great aplomb. They underpin our education, our technology, our front-line face, working with members and Strategic Partners alike, while making magic happen at every event, thank you for your support and dedication.

During our Annual Meeting in Orlando, we unveiled our Strategic Plan, which has been in the works since last November. The Leadership Team, in concert with the Executive Committee, pulled together workgroups to place everything “on the table” as we charted our next path, leaving no stone unturned.  I know in my heart that the Women’s Council of REALTORS® has a plan that will bring us into 2025, stronger and more nimble than ever, to continue our commitment to our “family”, so that we will continue to be identified as the cream of the crop. 

And so, thank you for welcoming me as your 2022 President, for growing with me, for challenging me, for changing me, for working with me, and for loving me. Our Ripples together have moved our Council forward, and I hope that the Ripple that touched you has propelled you to new waves on new oceans. 

I leave you with this quote from US Senator and former Olympian and NBA Champion Bill Bradley, “Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” 

With Love,

Sylvia