About

Desirée Patno

CEO & President, NAWRB

“Unlike their minority counterparts, women do not have geographical roots. As a result, women lack strong cultural support from one another. Join us in strengthening the women’s culture and growing the largest global resource center for women in the housing ecosystem.”

Raising the utilization of women-owned businesses and providing women tools for economic security, stability and sanctuary are our priorities. As the only third-party industry-specific certifier of Women-Owned Businesses (WOBs) and Minority-Owned Businesses (MWOBs) in the housing ecosystem, we raise the profile of women business owners by working with the OMWIs to bring more diversity and inclusion to the industry.

Our multi-volume annual Women in the Housing & Ecosystem Report (WHER) is an invaluable resource helping academics, industry insiders and experts stay up-to-date on the latest data affecting women and helps them put together a bigger picture on how the moving parts of the housing ecosystem come together.

Specializing in the Housing Ecosystem, our trademark, SHE is Changing Real Estate®


Mission

NAWRB is a leading voice for women in the housing ecosystem. With the assistance of our Women’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC), NAWRB is advocating for women’s gender equality, raising the utilization of women-owned businesses and providing women the tools and opportunities for economic expansion and growth. By increasing women’s homeownership, we can leverage the entrepreneurial strength of women and help bring the awareness of women’s poverty.

With our Women’s Homeownership Initiative (WHI), NAWRB is focused on increasing women’s homeownership and raising awareness of women’s poverty levels.

The NAWRB Women’s Global Resource Center (NWGRC), provides a free women’s depository to connect vendors and clients at all employment levels and increase diverse spend.

NAWRB is fueled by our passion to help women in the housing ecosystem achieve success with gender equality.


 

Five Initiatives

Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Council (NDILC):

Dedicated to raising the number of C-suite women and growing women’s employment at all levels in the housing ecosystem. Our Council, comprised of senior executive women, works diligently toward gender equality and obtaining equal opportunity for women in boardrooms and C-suites across America.  

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Women’s Global Resource Center (NWGRC):

Providing a women’s depository for vendors and clients to grow their diverse spend and increase women’s employment at all levels. NAWRB contributed greatly to the Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program which recently awarded a record-breaking 5.05 percent or $17.8 billion of federal small business contracts to women-owned small businesses. 

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Women’s Homeownership:

Committed to increasing women’s homeownership and raising awareness of women’s poverty levels across America. In the U.S., 29 percent of families headed by women with no husband present live below the poverty level. Of these households, 39.2 percent have children below 18 years and 43.9 percent have children under five.

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Small Business Sustainability Care Package:

Providing small business owners with guiding principles for long-term success, our package advises small businesses to be meticulous in everything from vetting their financial institutions to establishing excellent cybersecurity.

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Strategic Partnership & Mentoring Programs for Women:

Giving women a voice and guidance in the competitive workplace. By increasing the presence of
women’s mentorship programs and our strategic partnerships, we are helping ensure women have
the opportunities necessary for future success.

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