ShareIn 2025, NAR Leadership Academy participants will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders through a combination of live and virtual events. The experience will begin with a live session in January 2025 in Washington, D.C., and culminate with graduation at NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience, in Houston, Texas, in November 2025.
Specific feedback and information about the proficiencies and interests of each class will be gathered to create a personalized Leadership Academy content journey. A sample list of the 2025 session topics is below. Please note the session topics are subject to change based on each class experience.
Live Session Dates
Date: December 11, 2024
Virtual Meet & Greet of the 2025 Class
Date: January 9-10, 2025
(Arrival date in D.C. is January 8)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Welcome to NAR’s Leadership Academy
- Introductions
- Teambuilding
- DiSC Assessment
- Capstone Project Overview
- Class Overview
How NAR Leads Real Estate From Washington, D.C. (Part 1)
In this session participants will be introduced to NAR’s Leadership Academy and learn its history. An overview of the class will discuss NAR Leadership Academy sessions, the Capstone Project, committee application processes, expectations/responsibilities, and class outcomes.
Participants will engage with key staff in NAR’s Washington, D.C., office to discuss how NAR leads the real estate industry from Washington, D.C., and the importance of a “members first” mentality when proposing national initiatives. Additional topics and speakers regarding NAR’s role on the Hill will be included in the May session: How NAR Leads Real Estate from Washington, D.C. (Part 2).
Date: May 31, 2025
(Arrival date in D.C. is May 30)
Location: Washington, D.C. – REALTORS® Legislative Meetings
How NAR Leads Real Estate From Washington, D.C. (Part 2)
- Why RPAC Matters
- The REALTOR® Party
- How NAR Works With Lobbyists and Congress
- How Members Can Build Relationships With Congress
- Presentation Skills Workshop
“Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization."
—Preamble, REALTOR® Code of Ethics
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) prides itself on advocating for home ownership and the rights of homeowners. In this session, Leadership Academy participants are exposed to how NAR uses its resources in Washington, D.C., to advocate for homeownership and REALTORS®.
Participants will have access and information to the inner workings of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and the REALTOR® Party; a bi-partisan political advocacy group. There will also be exposure to effective lobbying techniques and how to best represent issues concerning real estate to Congress.
Date: August 13-14, 2025
(Arrival date in Chicago is August 12)
Location: Chicago, IL
Leading NAR From Chicago
- Getting to Know NAR’s Affiliates and Subsidiaries
- NAR’s Internal Staff Functions
- NAR’s Leadership Team
The National Association of REALTORS® main office is located in Chicago, Illinois, and houses a number of its affiliates and subsidiaries. In this session, Leadership Academy participants will learn the history of NAR’s affiliates and subsidiaries, tour the main office facilities, meet with members of the Leadership Team, and learn about the main functions of NAR staff.
Date: November 12, 2025
(Arrival date in Houston is November 11)
Location: Houston, Texas – NAR NXT, The REALTORS® Experience
- Building Your Legacy: Taking the Next Steps in Your Leadership Journey
- Determining Your Future Role
- Finding a Mentor
- Positioning Yourself for Future Leadership Roles
- Capstone Project Presentations
Everyone is unique and has their own goals and definition for success. The final session of the Leadership Academy focuses on next steps and future goals of each participant. After being exposed to NAR’s expectations of leadership and the internal workings of the association at the national level, each Leadership Academy participant will be asked to critically analyze their next steps within the association.
Virtual Session Dates
Please see below for a sample list of the 2025 virtual session topics. Please note the session topics are subject to change based on each class experience.