October Research and
The Title Report hosted a discussion between Titan Title CEO Sara Rodriguez, president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), and BancorpSouth Vice President, Community Development Area Manager Stephen-Michael Washington about diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
SoftPro Director of Regulatory Compliance Leslie Wyatt moderated the discussion, which included why diversifying your office is so important.
“Diversity is important not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it brings so much value to you,” Rodriguez said.
Diversity builds a strengthened work culture, creativity and innovation, and connections with the community, Washington said.
“In the real estate market, you find people are drawn to individuals that they believe will understand them,” he said.
Diversity is also critical for your bottom line, Rodriguez said.
“In the next 20 years, 70 percent of new homebuyers will be Latino,” she said. “The majority of your new clients in the next 20 years are going to be minorities, and they want to work with companies that look like them and sound like them. … If you don’t diversify, you might not be in existence in the next 20 years.”
To hear from Washington and Rodriguez on strategies and best practices to employ to diversify your office, check out the webinar here. Thanks to the support of SoftPro, it is free to listen.