Connection and Creativity at the BOMA 2024 International Conference by Alison Pullan

Connection and Creativity at the BOMA 2024 International Conference by Alison Pullan (Assistant Property Manager -Unico Properties) - 2024 BOMA DEI Scholarship Recipient

Earlier this year, I was thrilled to discover that I had been selected to attend the 2024 BOMA International Conference in Philadelphia by BOMA Greater Seattle, who generously awarded me with a DEI scholarship. Although I have attended online BOMA classes and gone to some local BOMA events, this was my first time attending the International Conference. 

Sunday morning’s keynote speaker kicked off my convention experience with thoughts on connection – and disconnection – in today’s society. I was moved by how the speaker, Michael Smerconish, spoke so eloquently about the basic human desire for connection and how impressed by how cleverly he tied real estate into the discussion. Our buildings serve as physical spaces where people come together and, while engaging in commerce, foster personal connections, growth, creativity, and community development. He further discussed how screens and social media give a false sense of involvement and connection, all while serving to isolate us from each other. The sentiment seemed to resonate with everyone in the room as we contemplated the very different, post-Covid, upside-down world we seem to be living in. It was both encouraging and a bit heartbreaking to recognize that we all seem to be going through the same challenges.

At the Women in Commercial Real Estate breakfast the following morning, I enjoyed listening to Portia Mount, who led a discussion on “How to Crush Burnout and Thrive”. Tuesday’s keynote speaker was Dr. Amy Cuddy, who spoke about the ongoing flux, what she called the “Flux Era”, created by the pandemic and concurring economic and cultural shifts. As in Mount’s presentation, Dr. Cuddy asserted that we all have personal agency and can empower ourselves in the midst of circumstances that are beyond our control.  Again, it was refreshing to hear how all of these speakers focused on the message resonated through the attendees proving common experience. 

The first educational session I attended was ‘Inspiring Urban Evolution Through Urban Farming”. I am interested in this topic because finding hidden value in existing assets is a professional goal. Endeavors such as beekeeping and P-patches not only have a positive impact on the environment but can also foster a sense of community amongst tenants and make their workspace a better place to be. I appreciated that the presenters provided concrete examples and guidelines that gave clear, practical steps to take to bring vision and imagination into reality. At another class, “The Future of Commercial Real Estate: We Are All Asset Managers”, the presenter was adept at engaging the audience and encouraging all to share their stories from the commercial real estate landscape. I was surprised by the level of vulnerability shown by all in their questions and comments.

Overall, the sense of community and camaraderie found in chatting with other real estate professionals and vendors was so unexpected. I felt genuinely encouraged to learn, grow, raise my hand, and take a “seat at the table”. The TOBY award dinner was the perfect way to cap off this gathering of exceptional people – a genuine celebration of our peers’ excellence, innovation, and hard work. I left this conference feeling inspired in my career and look forward to taking part in future BOMA events!