Welcome to the Troy Talks Podcast episode #75!

In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Kelani Blackwell, a trailblazing consultant and advocate in the commercial real estate industry.

Kelani has made significant strides from her start in residential real estate to becoming a strong voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion in commercial spaces at CBRE.

Today, she will share her firsthand experiences of the challenges faced by minority brokers and the significant disparity in diversity within commercial real estate.

We'll delve into how she transitioned her career, her motivational journey in establishing the "Women in Real Estate" club on Clubhouse, and how this platform has supported over 70,000 women by fostering a sisterhood of professional growth and empowerment.

Kelani also highlights the potential for bringing commercial real estate opportunities to underserved communities and discusses her long-term vision, including the launch of an investment fund and the upcoming Wirecon conference in 2024.

Join us as Kelani shares invaluable insights and her unique perspective on transforming the landscape of commercial real estate while creating impactful community connections

Topics covered:

- Kelani's background in real estate beginning with her mother's influence as a realtor and loan officer.

- Transition from a corporate job to entering the real estate industry, starting in a small fix-and-flip operation, and evolving into a full-service boutique brokerage.

- Moving to a significant role at CBRE focusing on multifamily investment property sales.

**Challenges in Commercial Real Estate**

- Discussion on the transition from residential to commercial real estate including the differences in emotional engagement and the complexities of commercial deals.

- The broader scope of commercial real estate, including various asset classes and brokerage types.

- The challenge of diversity in commercial real estate, particularly the lack of minority brokers in producer roles versus support roles.

- The difficulties faced by minorities in building a sustainable income and book of business within commercial real estate.

**Creation and Impact of Women in Real Estate Club on Clubhouse**

Connect with Kelani Blackwell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelanib/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelanib?igsh=MWlrdHoyM3FpM3Jvdw==

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