Lauren Setterbo Joins the The WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program

The inaugural Americas Entrepreneurs Program pairs women business owners with mentors, executive coaches, and peers to help strengthen their ventures and expand professional networks.

READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE

In an industry defined by vision, capital, and relationships, one barrier has remained stubbornly consistent: access. Not just access to opportunity within organizations, but access to the networks, mentorship, and strategic guidance required to build a business—especially for women.

The WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program was created to close that gap. In doing so, it expands the mission of the Women’s Leadership Initiative beyond leadership development to support entrepreneurship and business ownership.

With the inaugural cohort now complete, the program represents an evolution in how WLI supports women across the real estate ecosystem. It is not simply preparing women to lead within existing structures; it is equipping them with the tools, relationships, and guidance to launch and grow their own ventures.

"The relationships built with my mentors will extend beyond this program… from finances and legal advice to marketing and client development."

Lauren Setterbo

Expanding the path to ownership

For decades, WLI has played a critical role in elevating women within corporate real estate. Yet advancement within organizations tells only part of the story. Ownership, building firms, directing capital, and making market decisions remain where much of the industry’s greatest influence lies.

As Nancy Lashine, founder and CEO of Park Madison Partners, observes, the industry has changed dramatically. There was a time when women were “not seen and certainly not heard.” Today, they are increasingly visible and supported, but access to entrepreneurship still lags behind.

The WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program responds directly to that reality. It is designed to move beyond visibility by equipping women with the tools, confidence, and networks needed to start and grow their own businesses.

Giving women the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship speaks to something deeper than skill building. It reflects a shift in mindset, expands what participants see as possible, and broadens who participates in shaping the built environment.

A model built on relationships

The program combines strategic advising, leadership development, and tailored business support. Participants are able to refine their ideas, clarify their vision, stress test their strategies, and build a knowledge base for long-term growth.

What sets the experience apart, however, is its emphasis on relationships.

Each participant is paired with mentors who have successfully built and scaled businesses themselves. These are not outside advisers, but practitioners who understand the realities of entrepreneurship and can offer both guidance and accountability.

That continuity is intentional. The program was designed to facilitate the start of professional relationships that can endure and support growth over time—not be a one-time intervention.

The power of the cohort

If mentorship provides direction, the cohort provides momentum.

The inaugural group brought together women from across markets, disciplines, and stages of business development. What emerged was not simply a learning environment, but a community defined by candor, trust, and shared ambition.

Participants challenged one another, shared lessons openly, and offered perspectives shaped by different experiences and markets. In doing so, they developed more than strategies. They built lasting relationships and a shared language around leadership, growth, and resilience.

Just as importantly, they expanded their perspectives. The cohort exposed participants to ideas, approaches, and opportunities far beyond their immediate networks, reinforcing the value of thinking beyond geographic or professional boundaries.

Tools for growth and resilience

Relationships formed the foundation, but the program’s structure ensured that those relationships translated into action.

Workshops focused on real-world challenges. Participants explored how to plan for uncertainty, navigate complex decisions, and ask the kinds of questions that prevent problems before they arise.

Executive coaching proved to be one of the program’s most impactful components. Through sessions with Carol Murray, co-founder and principal of The Lifework Institute, participants strengthened their communication skills, refined leadership presence, and developed a more intentional approach to decision-making.

For many, this experience was especially meaningful within the context of a historically male-dominated industry. It provided space not only to build skills but to build confidence in applying those skills.

Unlocking the ULI network

The WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program’s connection to the broader Urban Land Institute network is another defining key benefit. Participants gain access to a global community of industry leaders, along with insights and relationships that are difficult to find elsewhere.

This access is not theoretical. It translates directly into opportunity.

New business leads, partnerships, and increased visibility have already emerged from these connections. Just as importantly, participants leave with a network they can continue to draw on as their businesses evolve.

A spirit of reciprocity helps sustain this network. Participants are encouraged to stay engaged, to return as mentors or advisers, and help future cohorts benefit from the same support and connections.

From strategy to showcase: the Nashville capstone

The program culminated in a capstone event, held this year in Nashville, Tennessee. Set in one of the country’s fastest-growing real estate markets, the event brought together participants, mentors, and industry leaders for presentations of participants’ ventures.

But the capstone was more than a pitch event. It was a moment of transition.

Participants presented business plans that had been shaped and strengthened over months of development. At the same time, they engaged directly with peers, potential partners, and investors in conversations that often extended well beyond the formal program.

The result was both the culmination of the inaugural program and the beginning of participants’ next stage of business growth.

Measuring impact

While the inaugural cohort has only recently completed the program, participants say it has already made a difference. They report stronger businesses, clearer strategies, and networks that continue to generate opportunities. Perhaps more significantly, they describe a shift in how they see themselves.

That sense of confidence and professional ownership may be the program’s most important outcome.

Blueprint for the future

The success of the first-year points to something larger than a single cohort. It offers a model that can be expanded across regions and scaled over time. And, as WLI continues to invest in this effort, the program has the potential to support more women as they launch and grow real estate businesses.

At its core, the program reinforces a simple industry truth: relationships drive opportunity. And expanding who has access to those relationships strengthens the entire ecosystem.

Playing the long game

The WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program is not defined by its timeline or its final presentations. Its impact will be measured over years through the growth of the businesses it supports and the leaders it helps develop.

By investing in women entrepreneurs today, WLI is helping shape a future in which the built environment reflects a broader range of voices, experiences, and ideas.