Our Favorite Takeaways From the 2024 Titans Of Industry: Women in Real Estate Brunch

On Thursday, March 7, we hosted our annual Titans of Industry: Women in Real Estate event at the Metropolitan Club. During this event, we discussed innovation, unlocking potential and overcoming challenges while bringing our members together to make connections.

Below, we’re sharing a few of our favorite takeaways from the event. Check them out!

#1: Articulate Your Value by Establishing Your Brand

Rebecca Thomson, Coldwell Banker Realty, shared that one of the best ways to articulate who you are is to establish your brand. How do you do that? Your brand is made up of three things:

  1. How you define yourself, or describing who you are and who you want to be.
  2. Elevating yourself by refreshing your profiles, resume, etc.
  3. Embody the qualities that define you everywhere, everyday.

During the Reflection & Resilience with Women Authors in Real Estate panel, Kimberly Offord, Coldwell Banker Realty, shared a similar sentiment about the importance of branding yourself. Her most recent book, “Brand to Expand,” shares how you can establish your brand, because your brand should not be your company’s brand. “You are more valuable to your brokerage when you have your own brand,” she said.

#2: Network with A Servant Mindset

Vicky Silvano, Real Broker LLC, shared her tips and tricks for successful networking. Her biggest suggestion was to approach networking with a servant mindset. Go into every interaction asking how you can help others, as opposed to what you’re going to get out of the interaction.

#3: The 5 Things You Need to Be Resilient

Lanora Tolliver, Chicago Association of REALTORS®, shared her story of resilience, which she boiled down to five things:

  1. Self-awareness: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
  2. Mindfulness: Living in the moment
  3. Self-care: the ability to prioritize your mental and physical wellbeing
  4. Positive Relationships: Supportive connections with others
  5. Purpose: How you serve others

#4: Put Your Clients First

During the How Women Top Producers Innovate, Grow & Adapt panel, our women top producers were asked about how they approach each transaction, and each shared insight that may seem second nature but is important to keep at the forefront of your mind: putting your clients first.

  • “Serve your clients with love, urgency and excellence.” – Lorena Ramirez-Carrillo, YUB Realty, Inc.
  • “Treat every transaction like it’s your own.” – Amy Duong Kim, COMPASS
  • “Put people before profits.” – Nicole Wheatly, Steps Inc. Consulting 

#5: Say Yes to Opportunities

During our final panel Unlocking Your Potential: Exploring Career Paths in Real Estate, four women shared their unique journeys in the real estate industry. When sharing their career paths, Rachel Scheid, @properties | Christie’s International Real Estate, shared how the power of saying yes to any and all opportunities has led her to her current role as Vice President of Brokerage Services and Designated Managing Broker. She said yes to new positions in her career, getting involved with the association and other volunteering opportunities, that allowed her to grow and network and make continuous steps forward in her career journey.


Additional Resources

Check out the event photos on Facebook – and make sure to tag yourself!
Listen to the Audio From the Event

Chicago REALTORS® · 2024 Titans of Industry: Women in Real Estate