Erica Sinner had her fill of book clubs, wine nights, and cooking classes.
It was the summer of 2023. Sinner had been working in the land sector for over a decade, with past roles in development, acquisition, and new-home sales. Scanning the proverbial landscape, she felt there were more than enough social networking events for women in the sector.
“Those events were great for connection, but not enough to help us advance in our careers,” says Sinner, now vice president of land acquisition and development at LGI Homes in Houston.
What she really craved were more education and leadership development opportunities for female land professionals.
“I believe nurturing relationships is important. But I also wanted to create a space where women could grow their expertise and be seen as serious professionals in these fields,” Sinner says.
So, in July 2023 she founded Ladies in Land in Houston. The organization brings together women in land-related roles spanning acquisition, infrastructure, construction, development, planning, engineering, architecture, and law. Events and activities include expert-led lunch-and-learns and executive coaching sessions.
Contrary to the legendary Stephen Sondheim song, these ladies do much more than just lunch. Ladies in Land events have tackled issues such as tree surveys, sustainable water strategies for developers, and overcoming infrastructure hurdles through public/private collaboration.
In addition to Houston, the organization now has chapters in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, Atlanta, and Jacksonville. A 10th chapter kicks off in Charlotte with an inaugural event on June 12.
Meanwhile, a new partnership with BUILDER’s parent company, Zonda, provides Ladies in Land members with access to Zonda’s educational certification program. Zonda will also be the exclusive executive sponsor of Ladies in Land within the residential real estate and analytics sector.
Education, Leadership, and Allies
While Ladies in Land fosters connections and mentorship, it’s focused on helping women gain practical industry knowledge and leadership skills.
“One of our core missions is education, equipping our members with the knowledge and confidence to take a seat at the table and contribute meaningfully to complex land development deals,” says Kelsey Taylor, a Dallas chapter leader and senior attorney at Allen Boone Humphries Robinson.
“I’ve walked away from every event with actionable insights that directly impact how I approach deals, navigate challenges, and lead my team,” says Ally Matich, a Nashville chapter leader and vice president of land acquisition at Meritage Homes.
Ladies in Land also offers memberships for university students and male allies in the industry.
“Oftentimes, there are men participating as sponsors or speakers, and it’s refreshing to see their support of the organization,” says Leslie Cook, a Houston chapter member/speaker/sponsor who is director of U.S. Municipal Finance at RBC Capital Markets.
Building Change
When the Urban Land Institute (ULI) surveyed more than 1,200 of its female members back in 2015, it revealed:
- 62% of female ULI members aspired to attain a C-level leadership role or start their own company
- Yet women made up just 14% of ULI’s CEO members
A decade later, has the needle moved at all? Sinner, who is also Ladies in Land’s CEO, says she’s noticed a shift over the past five to seven years, with more women getting opportunities to lead land teams and land divisions.
“That’s a huge step forward,” she says. “I believe what we’re doing with Ladies in Land is helping to accelerate that progress. We’re not just talking about change, we’re building it.”
