The real estate industry has historically been male-dominated, but as more and more women enter the field, it is important to inspire and support them to become leaders. As a woman in real estate, I believe it is my duty to help create a more gender-diverse industry by being a positive role model, providing mentorship and guidance, encouraging networking, creating opportunities and sharing success stories.

I have been in the real estate industry for five years, and before that, I worked in various positions in retail management, catering and food service. Throughout all these industries, I noticed that leadership roles were predominantly held by men. However, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reports that 65% of Realtors are small business owners who are women. Despite this, women are not always reflected in leadership positions of real estate organizations.

To change this, we need more female role models. Successful women need to inspire more successful women to fill leadership roles after them. We as women are only as strong as the women next to us. Once we have successfully opened a door, we need to work together to inspire the next generation of women leaders to come forward and do things bigger and better than we ever could.

One way to inspire women to become involved in leadership in real estate is to create opportunities for them to network and connect with like-minded individuals. I was fortunate enough to attend a Women’s Council of Realtors event during my first year in real estate. The experience was so impactful that I have been involved ever since. Each year, I have taken on a different leadership role on the governing board of a network, and four years later, I am the 2023 president for Women’s Council of Realtors Atlanta.

Being a part of this network has allowed me to thrive as a leader in real estate. I have been able to expand my leadership capabilities and take them to different organizations. I am currently in the 2023 Atlanta Realtors Emerging Leaders Program, a GAR State Director, and sit on the Board of Directors for ARA, as well as the ARA Affordable Housing Committee and DEI Committee. I would not have been able to achieve all of this without the women who have paved the way and helped me along the way.

As a female leader in real estate, I feel it is my responsibility to share my knowledge and experience with other women. By doing so, we can empower them to take on leadership roles and contribute to the industry in meaningful ways. Women bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table, and it is important for the industry to reflect this diversity in its leadership positions.

In addition to being a role model and providing mentorship, I believe it is important to share success stories. When women see other women achieving success in leadership positions, it inspires them to believe that they too can achieve their goals. It is also important to

acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women in leadership roles, as this helps to increase their visibility and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Women have a critical role to play in promoting greater gender diversity in leadership positions in the real estate industry. By being positive role models, providing mentorship, encouraging networking, creating opportunities and sharing success stories, we can inspire and empower other women to become leaders in the industry. Women bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table, and it is crucial that the industry reflects this diversity in its leadership positions. How can you be the leader you never had?

Carissa Zedaker is the 2023 president of the Women’s Council of Realtors Atlanta.