Nareit’s HR Forum, which was held Sept. 10 in conjunction with Nareit’s REITworks: 2024 Sustainability & Social Responsibility Conference, convened more than 100 REIT social responsibility and human resources leaders outside of Washington, D.C. in McLean, Virginia. The educational program focused on current issues of importance for REIT professionals in all areas of human resources and social responsibility.
HR Forum by the numbers:
- 100+ attendees
- 40 member REITs
- 22 panelists and keynote speakers presented at the event
Presentations featured various formats, including TED-talk style sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables. Continue reading for a recap of the sessions.
Defining Culture & Advancing Inclusivity
During the opening session of the HR Forum, panelists explored critical elements of organizational culture, highlighting the role of inclusivity in fostering innovation and employee engagement. The discussion focused on why trust is essential for building an inclusive culture and how to ensure a company’s cultural vision is reflected every day, among other topics. The speakers included from L-R: Iris Drayton-Spann, Stanton Chase (moderator); Scott Ballina, AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Adebola Osakwe, Osakwe Consulting; and Carolyn Carter Singh, Horace Street Consulting.
The Future Workforce: Retention & Succession Planning
This panel highlighted key strategies for long-term talent retention, including leveraging technology and data to identify retention risks and implement solutions. It also explored the challenges and opportunities surrounding flexible work arrangements, talent development initiatives, and innovative strategies to ensure a smooth leadership transition. The speakers included from L-R: Laura Houser, Federal Realty Investment Trust (moderator); Larry Krema, ZRG Partners, LLC; Shea Taylor, Brixmor Property Group Inc.; and Anisha Pednekar, The Carlyle Group.
Sponsorship & Mentorship
This session focused on using sponsorship and mentorship as catalysts for career advancement and organizational success. Among other topics, the panelists discussed how to identify high-potential talent, match mentors to mentees, and establish measurable goals and feedback mechanisms that maximize impact and engagement. Speakers, from L-R, included Ayris Scales, Nareit (moderator); Nadine Bullock-Pottinga, Paradigm for Parity; Lisa Rawlings, National Urban Fellows; and Esmé-Thea Sanders, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) Alumni.
Fostering Employee Success & Loyalty
This panel explored ways in which to foster employee growth and engagement through personalized development and recognition. Speakers discussed strategies for designing recognition programs that emphasize personalized gestures to boost appreciation, motivation, and employee loyalty. The panel also covered the importance of enhancing communication in performance planning and creating development programs centered on learning, skill enhancement, and career progression. Speakers, from L-R, included Leah Landro, Kimco Realty Corporation (moderator); Ashley Coombs, Camden Property Trust; Cynthia Wiley, AvalonBay Communities, Inc., and Tioni Simmons, Nareit.
The Intersection of Psychological Safety & the Science of Learning
During this TED-talk style session, Dr. LaNail Plummer, CEO of Onyx Therapy Group (pictured above), gave an overview of psychological safety, tangible steps to increase it, and underscored its importance in fostering retention, productivity, profitability, and team cohesion. She also discussed the science behind learning; the different types of learning; how cognition, motivation, and behavior shape outcomes; and the interaction between psychological safety and learning. The session included interactive activities, such as working with other participants and reflecting on the concepts learned from the session.
Compensation & Benefits: Decoding Trends & Strategies
During this session, Grace Kim, senior director of compensation consulting for Ferguson Partners (pictured above), previewed the results of Nareit’s 2024 Compensation and Benefits Survey. She highlighted the latest compensation trends and benefit strategies that REITs are implementing to stay competitive.
Impact of the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision
The final session of the forum focused on how the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision has affected diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and candidate pools. The panelists discussed what the decision explicitly allows and doesn’t allow. They also offered recommendations for implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, particularly in environments that may not be “ready.” Speakers, pictured from L-R, included Dionna Johnson Sallis (moderator), Ferguson Partners; Elsa Andrianifahanana, Jones Day; and Tina Gilbert, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT).
The event closed out with a property tour and networking reception at Tysons Corner Center Campus.
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