EXIT Realty - Living The Why
by Kim Morris
At Women’s Council of REALTORS®, our strategic partners are an integral part of our foundation and our growth. In this issue, let’s get to know our strategic partner, EXIT Realty and dive into how they manifest their philosophy: be healthy, wealthy, loving and wise.
EXIT Realty Corp. International is a real estate franchisor in Canada and the United States. “We help people live their why and real estate is our how,” Tami Bonnell, Co-Chair, EXIT Realty Corp. International, says. With their unique business model, Tami says, “we are a company founded and built on human potential focused on one thing: providing our associates with the opportunity to have more”
“Our visions are aligned,” Tami explains when we talk about the partnership with Women’s Council. “Excellence, inclusion, development of leaders, that’s near and dear to our heart.” EXIT proudly boasts 14 women of 18 executive leaders in their organization. Developing leaders, Tami says, means “being the consummate professional, constantly practicing your craft and developing relationships. If you’re excellent, you’re inclusive.” EXIT’s leaders also have another gift in common with Women’s Council leaders—the ability to spot leaders before those leaders know they’re leaders. “The people new to the leadership experience, they’re already doing it before they know they’re doing it,” Tami reports. “In fact,” she continues, “Women’s Council members may not know that we have a Director of Leadership who focuses on raising the ‘leadership lid’ of everyone in our organization so they become not only better leaders to their clients or fellow agents, as the case might be, but also in their personal life and in their communities.”
That outreach into the communities is essential, Tami explains, “because people’s needs cross many lines—medical care, wellness,” so care is taken to develop community ties as well. “We have a huge philanthropic side,” Tami says.
A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to their charitable fund. Through the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program EXIT offices and associates can raise money for approved, registered charities and apply to EXIT’s head office to have those funds matched from the company’s pool of funds.
“Our agents’ fundraising efforts support worthy causes in the communities where they live and work that really speak to their hearts. We have supported non-profits focused on veterans, community support such as shelter and food banks, children’s charities, medical research and support, animal welfare and more,” Tami explains. “Coming together for a common cause, more exposure for important issues, action on initiatives—EXIT is where to be to be involved in making a difference in people’s lives.”
Women’s Council members are encouraged to take a look around EXIT Realty’s website and online publications. You’ll find an interesting whitepaper on EXIT’s philosophy of helping people living their why here. Take a look at Focus on Good Health for some great tips on Thriving Versus Surviving and some insightful tips on reassessing forward growth in Look Back, Move Forward.
All of this knowledge is shared with the public because EXIT looks for opportunities to engage with their community, a value Women’s Council of REALTORS® holds dear. “We believe the teacher learns the most,” Tami says. “The consummate leader learns from others.”
About the Contributor
Kim Morris is a Chicago-based freelance writer and editor with more than 25 years of writing experience.