September 18, 2020 | By Graaskamp Staff
Karen Kane and Liz Trautz Recognized as Goldie Scholars
We are proud to announce that Real Estate MBA students Liz Trautz (MBA ’22, pictured on the left) and Carolyn Kane (MBA ’21, pictured on the right) have both been recognized as Goldie Scholars for the 2020-21 academic year.
The Goldie Initiative was founded in 2007 by Goldie B. Wolfe Miller, whose name is well known in Chicago. Miller established herself within the real estate industry as an entrepreneur and sold her own firm in 1998 after closing $3 billion in commercial real estate deals. Now, aside from being recognized as the former owner of the largest female-owned commercial real estate firm, Miller is making an impact on the future of women in the business. The goal of The Goldie Initiative is to prepare the next generation of women in the real estate industry to be successful leaders in their field – one that is run predominantly by men.
Miller is also a Board Member of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. As Goldie Scholars, Kane and Trautz have been awarded scholarships, exclusive networking opportunities, and the ability to participate in a mentoring program with current industry leaders through the Goldie Initiative.
Trautz and Kane are one of 25 women recognized in the 2020-2021 class of Goldie Scholars. The program accepts applicants from 13 schools in the Midwest, UW-Madison included, and has several requirements. The women who apply must demonstrate academic excellence and intensive work outside of the classroom, as well as submit essays, recommendations, and go through a personal interview.
“I’m thrilled to be selected as a Goldie Scholar; especially after having worked in the commercial real estate industry in Chicago for the last three years and experiencing how male-dominated it is,” said Trautz. “The Goldie Initiative is doing awesome work and I think their programming will be an excellent complement to the education I will get at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as an experience I can leverage throughout my career.”