On May 13, 2020, The Goldie Initiative celebrated commencement for 15 Goldie Scholars completing graduate school at regional universities this spring, with a virtual luncheon attended by 70 individuals involved in the organization. The Goldie Initiative is an innovative leadership development program for women pursuing C-level careers in commercial real estate.
Goldie Scholars participate in mentoring, networking and career advancement programs with The Goldie Initiative for up to two years; they also receive a $10,000 scholarship toward graduate school. The organization supports female students studying business and law at 12 universities throughout the Midwest.
This year’s fifteen graduating Goldie Scholars attended University of Chicago-Booth, Northwestern Kellogg and Pritzker School of Law, University of Michigan, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Roosevelt University and University of Notre Dame. These graduates join nearly 100 alumnae of The Goldie Initiative, many of whom have remained actively involved in careers in commercial real estate since the program was founded at Roosevelt University in Chicago in 2007 by Goldie B. Wolfe Miller, a renowned commercial real estate broker.
“I was overwhelmed by the participation in our year-end celebration—we had more attendees at the virtual event than we ever had at our in-person luncheon,” Miller said. “I am very proud of what we have built, reported to be the largest scholarship program of its kind in the country.”
At the virtual graduation celebration, participants—which included the graduates and current Goldie Scholars, mentors, alumna and committee and board members—heard from Miller as well as Sheli Z. Rosenberg, the organization’s 2018 Goldie Gala Shero award winner and principal at Roselin Investments. Rosenberg is the former president, chief executive officer and vice chairman of Equity Group Investments.
Utilizing a “fireside chat” format, Miller interviewed Rosenberg about her successful commercial real estate law career. Among other things, the colleagues—who have worked together in the industry for over 40 years—discussed topics such as risk-taking, networking and market cycles. Considering the current pandemic environment, the topics were quite timely.
Miller and Rosenberg also fielded questions from Goldie Scholars, moderated by the organization’s executive director, Megan Abraham. About the graduating class, Abraham said, “At fifteen, this group marks the largest group of Goldie Scholars that we have graduated in one year. We are amazed at their accomplishments so far and look forward to following their career paths as Goldie Alumnae.”
In addition to the fireside chat, participants in the Virtual Goldie Scholar Luncheon heard personalized video messages from many of the graduating scholars’ executive mentors, who are assigned annually as a benefit of the program.
Megan May, a Goldie Scholar graduating from Kellogg and a senior associate at Allstate Investments, displayed her appreciation. “The past two years have been the most rewarding, challenging and transformative yet and The Goldie Initiative has been instrumental in this experience,” May said. “Leaving this short, but sweet chapter with gratitude—grateful for the relationships I have developed with scholars, alumnae, mentors, sponsors and board members.”
The Goldie Initiative is currently accepting applications for female graduate students pursuing graduate school degrees and a career in commercial real estate, through June 15, 2020. Goldie Scholars accepted for the 2020-21 school year will join eight returning Goldie Scholars, who attend graduate school at Chicago Booth, DePaul University, University of Illinois, Northwestern Kellogg, University of Wisconsin, and Northeastern Illinois University.
In addition to its robust programming, The Goldie Initiative now offers its Goldie Scholars $15,000 in scholarship funds over two years, up from $10,000. The organization looks forward to celebrating the upcoming class of Goldie Scholars at its annual Goldie Gala fundraiser scheduled for September 17, 2020, honoring its Shero recipient, Lynn Reich of Colliers International.
