Leadership Academy Day Three: Strategic Leadership in Action
Day Three of WMLAR’s 2025 Leadership Academy focused on one of the most essential elements of effective leadership: strategic thinking and governance. Held on Wednesday, May 14 at the WMLAR office, participants explored how successful organizations and leaders plan with purpose and lead with clarity.
Strategic Planning Panel
The morning began with a thoughtful and energetic panel discussion moderated by WMLAR CEO Jon Broadbooks, featuring two of our industry’s most respected leaders: Kimberly Ryan and Mark Oegema.
As the 2024 WMLAR President and co-owner of West Edge Real Estate, Kimberly brought a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. She shared how her leadership journey has been shaped by her values, her passion for mentoring, and her active involvement in RPAC and committee work. Her insights on balancing business operations, team culture, and long-term planning inspired many in the room.
Mark Oegema, Managing Broker and Chief Growth Officer at Home Realty, shared his perspective as the 2025 President-Elect of Michigan REALTORS®. Mark emphasized the importance of collaboration, clear communication, and thoughtful execution in organizational planning. His leadership style—centered on connection and continuous growth—left a lasting impression on attendees.
Together, the panelists offered both inspiration and practical advice for REALTORS® aspiring to lead at the office, association, and state levels.
Strategic Planning in Action
Following the panel, Jon Broadbooks returned to lead a session on how to turn vision into reality. Using real examples and simple frameworks, Jon walked participants through the steps of building a strategic plan—from identifying core values and priorities to developing actionable goals. He encouraged attendees to think about their own spheres of influence and consider how strategic thinking can improve everything from team performance to customer experience.
Effective Meetings with Parliamentary Procedure
The afternoon featured a deep dive into parliamentary procedure and nonprofit governance with guest speaker Julie Pioch, a Professional Registered Parliamentarian and longtime educator. Julie provided an engaging overview of:
- How to create effective and efficient meeting agendas
- The fundamentals of Robert’s Rules of Order
- Bylaw basics and how they support organizational health
- Best practices for encouraging respectful debate and public interaction
Julie’s approachable style and real-world examples helped demystify what can often feel like an intimidating topic. Participants left with greater confidence in their ability to run productive meetings and contribute meaningfully to their boards and committees.
The day was a meaningful reminder that leadership isn’t just about vision—it’s about structure, process, and people. As our Leadership Academy cohort continues to grow in knowledge and confidence, we’re excited to see how they’ll apply what they’ve learned to strengthen their businesses and communities.
Stay tuned for highlights from our next session!
