Call for Real Estate Rising Stars: Real Estate Board of New York Seeks Diverse Group of Real Estate Professionals for its 2022 REBNY Fellows Leadership Program Focused on Fostering a More Inclusive Real Estate Industry

In partnership with Coro New York Leadership Center, REBNY Fellows Program is creating and cultivating a pipeline for more diverse talent to drive the next generation of the industry

NEW YORK, NY – The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the City’s leading real estate trade association, in collaboration with the Coro New York Leadership Center, the City’s premier civic leadership training program, today announced the call for the next generation of real estate leaders for its REBNY Fellows Leadership Program, the first program of its kind for young real estate professionals of diverse backgrounds, now in its second year.

REBNY is seeking rising real estate leaders from diverse backgrounds for a high-impact, six-month training program focused on further developing the leadership skills needed to solve complex challenges, assess multiple perspectives and collaborate effectively. The program provides networking opportunities along with advocacy and civic leadership training. Participants walk away with additional knowledge and skills and a lifelong professional network that will provide a roadmap to continued success in the real estate industry.

“REBNY is committed to cultivating diverse talent in our industry to ensure they have the tools and opportunities they need to have long-lasting and impactful careers in real estate,” said REBNY President James Whelan. “The REBNY Fellows Leadership Program will help ensure that the next generation of real estate leaders reflects the unparalleled diversity of the great City of New York.”

Adem Bunkeddeko, Executive Director of Coro NYC said: "At Coro, we are working on building the next generation of diverse leaders who are ready to step up and help New York City and the nation not just recover from this crisis but emerge even stronger than before. More than ever, we need leaders who are ready to take on the biggest challenges we face, and we are proud to partner with REBNY to help us achieve that goal. It is going to take every sector of life in New York coming together to create a more inclusive and fair city and through this collaboration, we can help cultivate the leaders who will make it possible.”

REBNY’s diversity initiatives, including the REBNY Fellows Program, are driven by REBNY’s new Senior Vice President of Social Impact Yvonne Riley-Tepie. In this role, Riley-Tepie oversees REBNY’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs and leads the strategic direction for REBNY’s philanthropic endeavor, focusing specifically on social impact. Riley-Tepie joined REBNY from TD Bank, where she most recently served as Vice President of the TD Charitable Foundation.

“Impact is the ultimate goal of our diversity programs,” said Riley-Tepie. “REBNY’s programs help provide the opportunity, mentorship and sponsorship employees of color need for high-trajectory jobs in real estate. In turn, those career opportunities will help deliver strong economic mobility for their families and provide the social capital they need to become leaders that can positively impact and transform their communities.”

REBNY is committed to advancing efforts that help attract, retain and advance women, people of color, and others from diverse backgrounds in the real estate industry. The organization’s REBNY Fellows Program aims to foster a more diverse and inclusive real estate industry by creating and cultivating a pipeline for rising leaders of diverse background within the industry. On the collegiate level, REBNY has collaborated with the City University of New York and Project Destined to create its Commercial Real Estate Internship Program focused on the pathways to careers in real estate for students of diverse backgrounds. Additionally, REBNY partners with Building Skills NY to connect underemployed New Yorkers with jobs and training to create new career pathways into the construction industry, a partnership that has resulted in placing more than 800 individuals from diverse backgrounds since 2016.

For more information about the REBNY Fellows or to apply for the exclusive leadership program, visit go.rebny.com/REBNYFellows.

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ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the City’s leading real estate trade association. Founded in 1896, REBNY represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, and salespeople; banks, financial service companies, utilities, attorneys, architects, and contractors; corporations, co-partnerships, and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate. REBNY conducts research on various civic matters including tax policy, city planning and zoning, rental conditions, land use policy, building codes, and other city, state, and federal legislation. REBNY regularly publishes market data, policy reports, and broker surveys. In addition, REBNY provides for its members: informational, technical, and technological resources; networking and charitable service opportunities; qualifying and continuing education courses; professional education programs, seminars, and designations; career-changing awards; legal advice; and a wide range of additional member benefits. For more information, please visit www.REBNY.com.