The reason I feel capable and empowered by being in the real estate industry is because it’s one of the biggest industries where networking and interpersonal relationships grant you access to everything. For those of you who know me, y’all would agree that I am very social and outgoing. The real estate industry allows me to be my natural self and use that to gain the opportunities to help impact the industry in any way I see fit.

Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a global organization that brings a great number of real estate professionals together to network and align on causes that need and require our attention. ULI Triangle is the chapter I am a part of and we house 750+ professionals in all corners of real estate within the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and Wilmington areas. Over the past year I have been able to get in front of most of those professionals and exchange with them and craft meaningful relationships. Those meaningful connections ultimately led to me finding a job that has changed the trajectory of my life and career forever.

Last year I attended the ULI Carolinas Meeting in Charlotte and I was only representing myself and trying to make connections to hopefully land a role somewhere. I wasn’t successful in landing a role for a whole year. But the opportunity costs from my relentless drive to meet and genuinely craft the precious relationships I have finally paid off and I am able to say I represent Highwoods at this year's ULI Carolinas Meeting as a ULI scholarship award winner. I am extremely grateful for the connections and experiences I have been afforded due to ULI. I will continue to try and recruit others to take advantage of the same opportunities I have been afforded.

Click here to view photos from the event.