Video: Growing LGBTQIA+ Visibility in the CRE Industry
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is recognized in June, but its lessons are timeless. During a recent conversation between Tres Seippel, Director, Construction Management at Arbor, and Dr. Sam Chandan, Founder of Chandan Economics, Founding Director, NYU Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance, and Co-Chair of the Real Estate Pride Council, Seippel shared why it is more important than ever for the industry to embrace visibility and show support for employees who identify as LGBTQIA+ or other diverse backgrounds.
“Arbor is an established firm with a remarkable track record that wants to continue evolving and attracting the highest quality talent because, without the best and brightest, we don’t have a future,” said Seippel. “Arbor is committed to supporting our clients in their investment goals, and we want to bring that same level of commitment to our employees to help them live authentically and reach their full potential in their careers.”
Enhancing visibility in the workplace includes supporting colleagues who understand the challenges many renters face, ultimately creating a more inclusive industry and society. For example, 79% of LGBTQIA+ respondents in a recent Zillow survey reported facing housing discrimination.
The Real Estate Pride Council: Connecting LGBTQIA+ Colleagues to Opportunities
The Real Estate Pride Council was launched with the mission of advocating for LGBTQIA+ visibility and representation in commercial real estate and the professions of the built environment, supporting the advancement of LGBTQIA+ professionals at every stage of their careers, and serving as an education and policy resource for the industry.
Chandan encourages companies to support their employees’ participation in Pride Council and other LGBTQIA+ industry events. “If you have team members who would benefit from attending Pride Council events, support them in doing that,” said Chandan. “One of the most important things you can do if you are interested in getting involved and staying updated on future events and initiatives is visit the council’s website and fill out the contact form.”
Chandan has helped grow the organization, which now has 73 active members and over 400 individuals on its mailing list. In the wake of a successful 2024 Real Estate Pride Roundtable, the world’s largest annual meeting of LGBTQIA+ CRE professionals, it is clear that the Pride Council’s mission and message are resonating.
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Visibility in CRE All Year
Arbor believes one way our team can champion the LGBTQIA+ community is through mentorship and networking opportunities, continuing a long tradition of supporting rising CRE professionals. That is why we are excited to announce our upcoming LGBTQIA+ Service Event in September, featuring speed networking. More details will be announced soon, and we look forward to continuing to demonstrate our commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ employees year-round.
Watch the conversation below to learn more about how you and your organization can support LGBTQIA+ visibility in CRE.
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