Supporting Women of Real Estate Grant Puts Women on Path to Leadership
by Elyse Umlauf-Garneau
The result has been events that give women the tools, motivation, and confidence to pursue leadership positions.
Often, such programming also introduces participants to the Women’s Council’s resources, skill-building, and networking opportunities.
Time and space to form relationships
Grant recipients have used the money to tailor content to members’ needs and interests.
For example, Tennessee REALTORS® saw more women volunteering for committees, investing in RPAC, and joining its leadership academy. Such trends inspired its 2023 TNsights with Women conference.
Women are already strongly represented in leadership in Tennessee, with women occupying the current and immediate past president roles, for example.
Moreover, its nine-month leadership program has been instrumental in cultivating future leaders, and most of its graduates have been women since the program’s 2018 inception.
Using the Supporting Women grant, the association enhanced its broker event, expanding it from a one-day affair to a two-day program and devoting an entire day to women-centric leadership content.
It allowed participants to share experiences, insights, and success strategies. Topics included:
- Achieving Excellence with Top Producers
- Empowering Your Leadership Journey
- Breaking the Barriers of Imposter Syndrome
Regina Hubbard, the 2024 Tennessee REALTORS®’ president, says that key program takeaways included speaker Becca Stevens’ message about the power of compassion and kindness to change lives and the various paths women took to reach leadership positions.
She also notes how unifying the event was, saying, “It highlighted the importance of community and provided the time and space for relationships to form.”
Perseverance pays off
Similarly, a 2023 program by the Coeur d’Alene Regional REALTORS®, a two-time grant recipient, created a supportive environment where women could discuss their experiences and share advice during its Advance, Empower, and Inspire event.
It included keynote speaker Jessica Bonar, a panel of high achievers, and insight from women in current leadership roles.
During roundtable discussions, attendees swapped ideas and best practices on topics like technology and marketing, professionalism and ethics, work-life balance, and leadership.
The event’s emcee, Alison Roberts, GRI, CRS, ABR, SRS, RSPS designated broker with Idaho at Windermere Manito LLC, Spokane, Wash., marveled at how willingly everyone shared their stories and insight about climbing the leadership ladder. She also emphasized Bonar’s point that professional success can coexist with imperfection and flaws.
She says one clear message was the importance of perseverance and hard work over the notion that there’s a magic formula for success.
Articulate your value
Another two-time grant recipient, the Richmond Association of REALTORS®, focused its 2023 Purpose & Strengths workshop on helping women identify and leverage their strengths.
“Many times, it’s difficult for REALTORS® to articulate their value and talk about themselves and what they bring as professionals to their businesses and clients,” comments Gracie Peck, Vice President, Programs & Communications for the Richmond Association of REALTORS®. “Everyone has a different path to leadership, and we wanted to support that skill development.”
Led by leadership coach Temesha Siler-McNeill, the interactive program showed attendees how to use a scientific approach to identify their strengths, expand their skills, and collaborate with colleagues.
“The big takeaway for attendees was acknowledging that you have value, purpose, and strengths that are yours to define and leverage,” Peck says.
She also notes the benefits of building relationships with local Women’s Council networks, which she says support women aspiring to leadership, help them develop their networks, and provide a place where women uplift one another rather than compete.
“Any association with a local Women’s Council network has a great untapped – hopefully, tapped – organization of leaders who are driven and help others reach their goals,” she adds.
Learn more and encourage your local REALTOR® board to apply for the 2024 Supporting Women of Real Estate Grant. The deadline is June 14, 2024.
The Supporting Women of Real Estate Grant aligns with Women’s Council’s mission of advancing women as business leaders in the industry and in the communities members serve. This partnership between NAR and Women’s Council is funded by The Center for REALTOR® Development (CRD). CRD is a division of NAR, devoted to lifelong learning, career advancement, and specialized credentials for real estate professionals.