Originally posted on Crain’s Chicago Business: New nonprofit CEO aims to support more women in commercial real estate
By Alby Gallun
A familiar face is returning as head of a local scholarship and mentoring program for women entering commercial real estate. And she sees opportunities beyond Chicago.
Megan Abraham has rejoined the Goldie Initiative, a nonprofit formed in 2007 by prominent real estate broker Goldie Wolfe Miller. Abraham, who served as the organization’s executive director from 2016 to 2020, returned in mid-March as its CEO, a new position.
Abraham, 47, believes the Goldie Initiative’s mission has become even more critical after the disruption of the COVID pandemic, which forced many women in real estate to make difficult choices.
“Many women had to take a step back in their careers to help their children through mental health crises or go to school at home,” she said.
The Goldie Initiative, based out of an office in Buffalo Grove, offers scholarship, networking and mentorship opportunities for women in commercial real estate, an industry long dominated by alpha males.
“There are so many shared anecdotes about deals that women have been left out of because they’re not part of the old-boys network,” Abraham said. “We’re looking to change the culture of real estate.”
But the obstacles didn’t stop Wolfe Miller, who started working as an office broker in 1972 and later founded her own brokerage, Goldie B. Wolfe & Co., which she sold in 1998.
The Goldie Initiative provides scholarships up to $15,000 over two years for women pursuing a graduate degree. Students attending business, law, architecture or another type of school are all eligible as long as they plan to use their education to launch a career in commercial real estate. The nonprofit typically selects about 30 Goldie scholars annually.
The organization historically has provided scholarships to women attending Chicago schools, like DePaul, Northwestern and Roosevelt universities. More recently, it has expanded to schools beyond Chicago, including The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and Georgetown University.
Abraham aims to expand the Goldie Initiative’s reach to even more institutions outside Chicago, one reason the nonprofit brought her back.
“I will be really focused on building our relationships with schools,” she said.
Abraham got off to a good start during her first stint at the Goldie Initiative.
“When she first joined our team in 2016, we had partnerships with just five schools, Wolfe Miller, the nonprofit’s chairman and president, said in a statement. “Megan not only helped us expand into the 18 schools we currently serve nationwide, but she was also instrumental in helping us to launch our now annual Goldie Gala event. I am thrilled to have her back at the helm, now as CEO.”
A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Abraham has spent most of her career in the nonprofit and association management world. She returned to the Goldie Initiative after more than two years as chief advancement officer at JCC Chicago. At the Goldie Initiative, she succeeded Executive Director Sue Vogel.
Original Article: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/goldie-initiative-nonprofit-women-real-estate-hires-ceo-megan-abraham