Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today: My Leadership Academy Journey

By Ashley Warren, Real Estate Broker & REALTOR®

This week, I started the Southwestern Illinois Board of REALTORS® Leadership Academy. Year two in real estate feels exciting—and important. I want clearer communication, stronger follow-through, and service you can trust. This program helps me do exactly that. It’s about growth, connection, and using our strengths to lift the whole industry. SIBR

Why leadership matters to me

Leadership isn’t a title. It’s how we influence, serve, and set the tone. It shapes culture. It moves teams forward when things get tough.

Great leaders keep it simple:

First, they help people rise to their potential.
Next, they make space for collaboration and accountability.
Finally, they guide with clarity and compassion.

There’s more. Real leadership also means listening, empowering others, and modeling the values you expect. As a result, one person’s growth can multiply impact across a team, an association, and a community. That’s the leader I’m working to become. And because our Illinois real estate community matters, I stay engaged with Illinois REALTORS® for education, advocacy, and ethics resources. Illinois REALTORS

What I’m learning

Each session starts with self-awareness and then moves to action.

Strengths in action: Know what you do best—and use it for others. (I draw language from CliftonStrengths to stay specific and practical.) Gallup Store
Trust and communication: Set expectations early. Give proactive updates. Follow through. (The Trust & Inspire framework continues to inform how I lead.) TemplateSite
Ethics and advocacy: Protect homeowners and raise standards. I reference the REALTOR® Code of Ethics to anchor decisions. National Association of Realtors+1
Collaboration: Build relationships that last with REALTORS® and local partners.
Foresight: Watch market and tech trends so we lead, not react. For context, I consult St. Louis Fed housing data when I share market snapshots. FRED

In addition, we practice. We role-play tough conversations. We review real cases. We set goals and track results. Because of that, the lessons stick—and they show up in daily work. For fair and consistent service, I also keep HUD Fair Housing guidance close at hand. HUD

The journey ahead

My aim for year two is simple: lead with trust, serve with excellence, and deliver results that hold up under pressure. I’ll post quick updates as I move through the Academy so you can follow the progress in real time. And because safety matters in our field, I follow best practices from the NAR REALTOR® Safety Program as I serve clients day-to-day. National Association of Realtors

Want to follow along?

Watch for #LeadershipNotes on my updates.
Comment LEADERSHIP if you’d like me to tag you in the weekly recap.
Share a leadership tip that’s helped you—let’s learn from each other.

Together, we’re building tomorrow’s leaders today. And we’re doing that work right here at home.