In this episode of the RENEW Podcast, RentSpree's Lauren Martin sits down with Emily Chenevert, CEO of the Austin Board of REALTORS®. Emily has been in a leadership position at ABOR for over ten years and is the youngest CEO in the Board's history and the first female to oversee the Board. With that in mind, Emily discusses shattering the glass ceiling in real estate and supporting a community of female leadership across the industry. Not to mention whether or not Emily is in the Backstreet Boys or NSYNC* camp.
During the conversation, Emily reflects on the pace of progress within the real estate industry and the challenges faced by MLSs in adapting to change. She notes that while the industry has grown considerably, it still moves slowly compared to other sectors.
"I think we've grown a lot, but I still think that we move at a snail's pace compared to the rest of the world," said Emily. "And I think that's tricky for us organizationally, in the sense that our governance structures are not always built in a way that supports quick decision-making. One of the things that I think we most need to focus on as MLSs who are helping the industry turn, is to really think about how can we make faster but still deliberate and informed decisions as an industry."
Lauren and Emily discussed how Chenevert navigates boardroom politics and the contentious climate in the real estate industry. They also talk about Chenevert's experience as a CEO during the pandemic and the importance of building a supportive culture within the organization. Chenevert mentions that the pandemic allowed her to open up about her personal life, which is generally kept separate from work, as everyone was going through a traumatic experience together.
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RENEW by RentSpree aims to help change the lack of women in leadership roles within real estate and foster a community that elevates female voices.
