Grant Winners Develop Creative Programs, Paving Women’s Path to Leadership
By Elyse Umlauf-Garneau
One, the REALTORS® Association of Maui, Inc. (RAM), is a first-time winner and will use its grant to put on PropelHER: Elevating Women in Real Estate, a program to tackle women’s unique challenges in reaching leadership positions.
“By providing women with access to resources and networks, we hope to continue elevating their presence in leadership positions, not just within RAM, but across the broader real estate industry on Maui and beyond,” comments Mei Wright, RAM’s CEO.
Active, personalized learning
Many grant winners are developing or have developed program formats that depart from the old-school approach of experts lecturing participants from a stage.
Though expertise is integral to such programming, associations are making person-to-person interactions, team activities, and knowledge-sharing the centerpieces of such gatherings.
The Oregon REALTORS®, for instance, plans to use an emcee to pair attendees up for one-on-one conversations at its upcoming event. To enhance the value of the interactions and help attendees make new connections, organizers will provide on-screen prompts to guide participants’ discussions on personal interests, business ventures, and industry insights.
Similarly, RAM is designing an environment in which participants aren’t just passive listeners for its PropelHER event later this fall. “This format will encourage attendees to share experiences, challenges, and solutions in real time, creating a more dynamic and personalized learning environment,” says Wright.
She notes that RAM expects the interactive format to help attendees practice networking in a structured and supportive setting, ensuring they leave with knowledge and meaningful connections. Plus, limiting the gathering to about 60 people will create an intimate environment, ensuring everyone gets heard and benefits from the expertise, support, and mentorship.
RAM participants will also be invited to arrive with an “ask”—something they need advice on—and a “give”—something they can offer the group: resources, introductions, or expertise.
The goal is to give participants practical skills and new relationships to advance their careers.
“Un-conference-y” formats nurture connections
For its first Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) in Sarasota, Fla., organizers also intentionally developed a retreat-like event that Leah DeCesare describes as “un-conference-y” to give women time to focus on themselves.
The REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee, Inc. (RASM) hosted its first WLS in March in partnership with both local WCR Networks: WCR Sarasota and WCR Manatee County.
“We wanted attendees to have the freedom to think about their values and goals, time to dream, and envision and ideate ways to take action toward achieving them,” comments DeCesare, RASM’s Events Director.
Another priority was delivering interactive, engaging content. For instance, a resiliency exercise entailed small groups of attendees building a house with Legos. Once the house was built, the moderator threw out an unanticipated challenge: All white bricks have termites, and homes with them needed to be rebuilt. She then introduced another challenge, forcing teams to rebuild their houses to new specifications.
“In a low-stakes way, the activity let participants see, feel, and practice resiliency and course correct with grace, skill, and confidence,” comments DeCesare. She says it also illustrated the importance of adaptability in life and as a leader and teammate.
Through mentor-to-mentee chats and resilience- and skill-building activities, these programs and their formats help women envision their future and give them connections, knowledge, and confidence to pursue leadership positions.
Enhancing collaboration
The grant has also helped to cement bonds within the Women’s Council network.
DeCesare calls working in partnership its two local Women’s Council networks a powerful and positive experience for both the association and the Council networks, and they’ve already established a task force to plan the next WLS event in 2025.
“We have mutual respect and value strengthening our relationship through our work together on the WLS,” adds DeCesare.
If you’re interested in developing or attending a women’s leadership event through your association, encourage your local REALTOR® board to apply for the 2025 Supporting Women of Real Estate Grant.