Emmy-nominated producer, writer and actor Mindy Kaling and NFL legend Kurt Warner set to pump up conference.
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At NAR NXT, the largest annual conference for real estate professionals, owned and produced by the National Association of REALTORS®, more than 12,000 attendees will fill the Anaheim Convention Center to attend education sessions covering every aspect of the real estate industry. 

Three motivating General Sessions, featuring globally renowned speakers, will welcome the largest audiences of all the events this week. These sessions will be recorded and available for virtual attendance.

Creative Gem Mindy Kaling Kickstarts Conference 

NAR NXT’s opening General Session features Mindy Kaling, Emmy-nominated producer, writer and actor, on Tues., Nov. 14, 8:45–10 a.m. Kaling’s enduring impact on entertainment and her entrepreneurial spirit continue to inspire audiences nationwide. The session is sponsored by NAR and C2EX.

Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling

Her television career started on NBC’s “The Office,” where she penned an impressive 23 episodes, becoming the first woman of color to earn an Emmy nomination for writing. Her entrepreneurial journey blossomed with “The Mindy Project,” which she starred in and produced for six seasons. In 2022, she received the Producers Guild of America’s Norman Lear Achievement Award, and her production company Kaling International was named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential Companies.” 

Her creative vision extended to Netflix’s hit series, “Never Have I Ever,” reaching 40 million homes in its first four weeks. She also co-created “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” breaking records on HBOMax with its premiere. Kaling is a New York Times bestselling author, with works like “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?” and “Why Not Me?” She launched Mindy’s Book Studio with Amazon Publishing to amplify diverse voices.

Nicole Malachowski on Navigating Change and Adversity

Leaders across every industry and experience level share one thing in common: to be successful, they need to effectively navigate failure, organizational change, and the unknown. Like headwinds to a pilot, these perceived barriers can force you to change direction, cost you momentum, and even take away options.  

On Wed., Nov. 15, 8:45–10 a.m., Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.), will share how REALTORS® can get in the right mindset to harness the energy of headwinds in their personal favor, and to the favor of their teams and organizations.  

Malachowski is a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame–she even has a Star Trek Federation starship named after her, the USS Malachowski (NCC-1619). 

After this session, attendees will see the premier of the 2023 Good Neighbor Award video and meet the REALTORS® who are making an incredible impact in their communities through volunteer work.

Fireside Chat With Sports Icon and Philanthropist Kurt Warner 

The anticipation is building for the closing session on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2:45–4 p.m., featuring a fireside chat with NFL legend Kurt Warner, the quarterback who defied the odds and led struggling franchises to Super Bowl success.  

Kurt Warner

His is a true underdog story. Despite success playing college football at the University of Northern Iowa from 1990 to 1993, Warner wasn’t drafted by an NFL team. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers in 1994 but was released before the regular season. He played for the Arena Football League for several years, even putting in a brief time stocking groceries at a Hy-Vee grocery store to make ends meet. 

Perseverance paid off, and his AFL performance got him noticed. In 1998, he earned a backup position on the St. Louis Rams and went on to lead the Rams to victory in the 1999 Super Bowl, earning himself both the NFL and Super Bowl MVP titles. He went on to secure multiple playoff appearances and earned two more NFL MVP awards during his years with the Rams. Warner signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and led the team to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 2009. 

After retiring from football, Warner found success in broadcasting, while also making a difference through philanthropy with First Things First, a foundation that encourages charitable giving and devotion to faith and family, and Treasure House, an active living community in Glendale, Ariz., for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Warner’s inspiring story was depicted in the 2021 movie “American Underdog.” 

After the session, the grand prize winners of the REALTORS® Relief Foundation donation-based drawing will be announced.

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