The ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) has examined the current state of women in the real estate and land use field and identified the most important actions organizations can take to promote more women to positions of greater seniority and visibility.

Most existing research published about women in leadership roles is based on data drawn from S&P 500 companies or other large firms. Because the real estate and land use industry has a number of smaller firms and public organizations, this study was interested in learning more about these types of workplaces. By leveraging ULI research and contacts, WLI was able to better understand the careers of women in the field and what leaders in organizations in the industry can do to advance them.

This research draws from a comprehensive survey of more than 1,200 female ULI members in the United States, four focus groups held in cities around the country, and numerous one-on-one interviews with a diverse group of employees at six public and private organizations from across the United States.

Highlights from the study include the following:

Challenging work assignments, an inclusive culture, and managers who coach matter more to aspiring female leaders than do formal women’s programs and training.

Read more at WomeninCRE.uli.org.