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“Change happens, change came, change is here,” National Association of REALTORS® Interim CEO Nykia Wright said last week at NAR’s annual Communication Directors Institute in Oklahoma City. Speaking to 170 communication directors from state and local REALTOR® associations nationwide, Wright emphasized the importance of trust and cooperation between NAR and its state and local leaders. “We need to figure out how we can work together. We need to expand the table and ensure that we as NAR are giving you what you need and that you are sharing feedback from your members back to us.”
The event was a chance for communication directors, who have been fielding questions from members about NAR’s proposed settlement agreement, to learn more about how NAR is supporting members, associations and MLSs through industry changes. Wright addressed that head on, reiterating the critical role state and local associations play in member engagement and communication.
“Your ideas and your voices are important,” she said, referencing an upcoming webinar about communicating practice changes. “NAR is transforming the organization to meet tomorrow’s needs. Let’s start with trust. I need to know your opinions and understand what happens at the local and state level.”
During the fireside chat led by Kristi Olds, communication director for Connecticut REALTORS®, known as CT REALTORS®, Wright drew parallels between her tenure as NAR’s interim CEO and her previous role leading the Chicago Sun-Times media company. Wright said she joined the Sun-Times at a precarious moment when the organization faced bankruptcy. But her commitment to the employees helped her transform how the Sun-Times leadership team approached challenges, and together, they introduced an innovative business model that empowered the organization to move forward and thrive.
Wright added that the best lesson she learned in life is to “exhaust all possibilities.” “If yesterday’s possibilities didn’t work, throw them out and try something new,” Wright said.
Leading up to Aug. 17, when the practice changes take effect, Wright encouraged communication directors to lean into the unique relationships state and local associations enjoy with members. She said that when sharing information about NAR’s settlement and practice changes, associations should try and match the communication style members use with their customers.
She also touched on her own leadership journey and credited journalists she’s worked with for making her a more transparent leader. She cited her mother and Warren Buffett as inspirations, specifically noting Buffett’s commitment to ethical business standards.
“Leadership today is different,” Wright said. “It requires negotiation by any means necessary, and my job is to ensure that no one leaves the table significantly disenfranchised. I'm a businessperson who brings business expertise to different industries."
Kevin Juliano, 2024 chair of the Communication Directors Institute and chief growth officer for the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®, said it will take teamwork for all associations to serve their members at the highest level. Olds concluded the session by asking about Wright’s use of the word “we” regarding the collective work of NAR and its state and local associations and whether she intended to describe those parties as a team. “One hundred percent,” replied Wright.
“Nykia’s direct and transparent approach offered reassurance to everyone in the room,” Olds told REALTOR® Magazine after the conference. “We have a lot of work to do, but the message we heard today is that we are all part of a team with a commitment to working together.”
Earlier in the conference, Mantill Williams, NAR’s vice president of public relations and communication strategy, briefed communication directors on member support leading up to and through the Aug. 17 effective date. He mentioned the webinar on communicating practice changes and that AEs and their staff will see a steady drumbeat of weekly information regarding practice changes via NAR’s online publications. Associations are encouraged to leverage these resources in their own member communication. For additional assistance on communication planning leading up to Aug. 17, including NAR’s surrogate program, communication directors are encouraged to reach out to Williams at MWilliams@nar.realtor.