RE/MAX Partners with the Women’s Council of REALTORS®

The RE/MAX network is filled with more than 140,000 entrepreneurs and business leaders who shape the real estate industry and change the lives of others each day. To advance a mission of ceaselessly supporting entrepreneurship for all, RE/MAX has entered into a partnership with the Women’s Council of REALTORS®, a network committed to advancing women as business leaders.

“RE/MAX affiliates are passionate about being the best possible leaders to serve their communities,” says Shawna Gilbert, RE/MAX Vice President of Global Development. “With this new partnership between RE/MAX and the Women’s Council of REALTORS®, and alongside the brand’s other strategic partnerships, members of the RE/MAX network can further develop leadership skills, better understand diverse perspectives and connect with like-minded professionals.”

The oldest affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the Women’s Council operates under a vision statement, intending to be “the voice for women in real estate, and the premier source for the development of leaders in the industry, organized real estate and beyond.” The Women’s Council, whose membership is open to all genders, boasts more than 12,000 members nationwide – more than 800 of whom are RE/MAX agents.

Mentorship and leadership

Pamela Banks, an agent with RE/MAX Prestige Realty in Lake Worth, Florida, served as the 2021 National President of the Women’s Council. Banks has also been a member of her local network in Palm Beach County for over 17 years.

She initially joined the Women’s Council because she saw the opportunity to have an accessible way to stay up to date on happenings within the real estate industry while also brainstorming business strategies with fellow real estate agents.

“Members are here to learn – and ultimately lead – and we are involved in every aspect of the real estate industry on local, state and national levels,” Banks explains. “We are called a leadership organization because we focus on building skills that help whether you’re a leader in your business, your home, your community or your brokerage.”

She adds, “So many women across the country attribute their personal and professional success to the knowledge gained through their collaborative experiences with the Women’s Council. We focus on a person holistically, and if someone is struggling personally, it can affect them professionally. The Women’s Council is a supportive place.”

Networking, connecting and referral opportunities

Rose Kemp, an agent with RE/MAX Town Centre in Orlando, Florida, has been involved with the Orlando Network of the Women’s Council for nearly 10 years.

“[The Women’s Council] builds you up to be a leader,” says Kemp, who was a recipient of the 2015 Women’s Council Entrepreneur of the Year award. “After joining and learning so much from other leaders, I ended up serving on a committee at my local board, the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association. The Women’s Council has inspired me to become more involved.”

Active involvement, including attending local and national events, has helped Kemp form relationships that have led to a strong referral network across vendors in her local market, too.

“As REALTORS®, we are a walking resource for consumers to come to us and ask us about all things real estate. The neat thing about Women’s Council is that they have members in so many real estate-adjacent businesses, so you get to make connections with local people that are there to help when you have your consumers coming to you looking for a reputable title company, home warranty company, or whatever service it may be,” she says.

Kemp adds, “I stay relevant because of my involvement with organizations like the Women’s Council and NAHREP. I continually learn so much, meet so many people, and stay top of mind in my market.”

A culture of empowerment

The Women’s Council is one of many professional groups RE/MAX actively supports in its role as an industry leader and advocate. The brand also has strategic alliances with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), and the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.

Since the company’s founding, RE/MAX has encouraged and supported female entrepreneurs. At the end of 2021, the RE/MAX network had 3,400+ Broker/Owners and over 74,000 RE/MAX agents identifying as women*. RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., the parent company of RE/MAX, also exemplifies its support of female leadership with two of five C-Suite executives and 50% of the Board of Directors identifying as women.

*Data as of year-end 2021

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