When ULI launched its Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), the Toronto District Council was eager to jump on the bandwagon. What a great idea! Women have always been key to the industry and are now becoming more prominent. We need to foster that momentum.

In that light in November 2012, ULI Toronto announced its Women’s Leadership Initiative. Our mission mirrors the global mission, which is to promote the advancement of women in Toronto’s real estate and development industry. We profile and celebrate the success of women in building better cities. We look to increase the number and visibility of women in leadership positions in our industry. We recognize the power of networks and support women leaders in expanding their industry connections. We work to ensure ULI events, committees and leadership reflect the diversity of our membership.

ULI Toronto’s membership is 25% female, which is 5% more than the ULI average, but has room to improve. There is huge potential in the 39% of ULI Toronto Young Leaders who are women.

WLI Toronto is just getting started, but there is a groundswell of enthusiasm that has led to some early achievements. We have launched our website and our blog, which are now some of the most popular pages on the ULI Toronto site. We have formed a dynamic committee that has a seat on the ULI Toronto Advisory Board and we have assessed our district council membership to identify where women are under-represented.

We are proud to have encouraged the Toronto District Council to sponsor women’s participation in Toronto’s 2012 Emerging Trends event. We reached out to our networks to ensure that women participated in greater numbers than ever before. Over the eight years this event has been held in Toronto, this year was one of the best – we have a hunch that the diversity of men and women in the room had a little to do with it.

We helped organize one of ULI’s quarterly events which focused on two accomplished civic leaders, who happened to be women. ULI Toronto’s Women’s Leadership Initiative co-hosted the 2013 Fireside Chat with Mayor Hazel McCallion and Toronto’s Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat. While the chat was a casual event with a lot of laughs, the crowd was clearly inspired and impressed by the duo’s passion, achievements and ability to lead change. Men and women from across the Toronto industry were there to learn from two remarkable leaders in real estate. And we did.

In June, WLI Toronto hosted a small networking and social evening with Janet Graham. Janet is the author of Babes on Bay Street which tells the stories of female business leaders in Toronto. Janet inspired and entertained the room. Overall, the event reflected exactly what women’s networks should be about; connecting, celebrating and supporting each other’s successes…. And a little fun too! Check out our blog post and photo gallery from the event.

ULI Toronto’s Women’s Leadership Initiative has gotten off to a great start. We are propelled by the talent, opportunity and potential in our city, and we expect great things to come. We look forward to learning from what other cities across the ULI network are doing. We hope that WLI groups around the globe share their experiences with us.

WLI Toronto is here to connect you to numerous volunteer opportunities in ULI.
Please contact [email protected].