ULI Launches Women Entrepreneurs Program for Real Estate Leaders

The Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) announced the launch of its first WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program to empower women entrepreneurs to start and develop their real estate-related businesses. The program connects women entrepreneurs with seasoned mentors, executive coaches, and peers in the same industry to get strategic advice and develop leadership skills along with access to valuable professional networks.

The initiative will be a significant expansion of the long-term mission of WLI and its focus on women leaders. WLI has been focused on building leadership within organizations, but this new program takes that commitment to the next level and empowers women to build their own knowledge, confidence and network of relationships in order to launch and grow their own businesses.

The program "Solve one of the industry's greatest challenges: lack of access to mentorship, business networks and strategic support for women pursuing entrepreneurship," ULI said. Nancy Lashine, founder and CEO of Park Madison Partners, said while women are more visible in real estate than in the past, opportunities to become entrepreneurs are still limited.

Participants engaged with mentors with proven business-building and growth experiences to fine-tune business strategies, enhance leadership skills and plan for sustained success. Executive coaching also emphasized communication, decision-making, and leadership presence, empowering individuals to excel in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Key Highlights:

• Women's real estate enterprises benefit from mentorship, executive coaching and networking
• Participants developed leadership, business and long-term working relationships
• The 2027 cohort will open for applications in September 2026

Participant Kappie Farrington added, "I came to the WLI Entrepreneurship Program at a critically important time; a year later, my business is in a much better place, and I want to pay it forward and contribute, too”.

Themes of peer collaboration were also highlighted in the program where a diverse group of women entrepreneurs from various markets and stages of business were gathered. Learners experienced each other, challenged each other and developed relationships that went beyond the formal curriculum.

In turn, Lauren Setterbo emphasized the importance of mentorship, noting, "The relationships I have built with my mentors carry beyond this program — not only with financial advice and legal guidance, but with marketing and client development ideas too. Julie Smith added, "It helped me to clearly communicate my value, to think more strategically about growth, and to approach challenges in a creative and disciplined way — the relationships I built with my mentors has extended beyond this program”.

The first program concluded with an exciting finale where participants pitched their businesses plans, created during the program, to their mentors, industry leaders, potential partners, and investors in Nashville, Tennessee. The event not only provided a platform to showcase the business ideas but also facilitated networking and potential collaboration opportunities.

Participants also had access to ULI's global network of industry professionals. The program "linked me with mentors who turned into accountability partners, and a national network of leaders that forever broadened my reach and perspective," Ellen Garland said.

After the success of their first cohort, ULI will continue to grow the initiative. The 2027 WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program will launch in September 2026, continuing to provide an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to develop successful real estate ventures through mentorship, leadership development and networking.