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Chicago & Midwest  + Downtown  + Office  |  August 19, 2026
Jasmine Kilman
By: Jasmine Kilman

Goldie Initiative Draws Record Applicant Pool for 45 Scholar Spots

The Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate Initiative (The Goldie Initiative) recently announced scholarship winners for the upcoming school year.

Since 2007, The Goldie Initiative has created a professional community of over 250 women with academic and leadership potential, known as Goldie Scholars. The Goldie Initiative received a record-breaking 145 applications, a 51% increase over the previous year, making the 2026-2027 selection cycle the most competitive in the program’s history.

34 new Goldie Scholars were selected for the upcoming academic year. Together with 11 returning scholars, the program will support a total cohort of 45 women pursuing graduate degrees relevant to commercial real estate. In addition to welcoming this new cohort, Goldie Gala Chicago will celebrate this year’s Shero award winner: Lisa Konieczka, Executive Vice President at CBRE Chicago.

“The Goldie Initiative continues to elevate and empower the next generation of women in real estate, and this cohort is a powerful example of that mission in action,” said Julie Thick, 2026 Board President.

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About Jasmine Kilman

Jasmine Kilman is Content Director of Connect Commercial Real Estate, covering Chicago and greater Chicagoland, the Midwest, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest. She covers industry trends, transaction deals, market research, and produces daily news stories. With experience in marketing and communications for academic nonprofits and corporate clients, including Hearst Media, Hilton, and Coldwell Banker, Kilman has written about commercial real estate, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), technology, healthcare, and philanthropy. She was born and raised in California and graduated with a degree in public relations. In her spare time, Kilman enjoys hiking and traveling to new locations with her family.
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