Women in Real Estate: Leading the Charge Toward Equal Access and a Level Playing Field

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Desirée Patno has led women toward leadership and success throughout her three-decade career. As president and CEO of Desirée Patno, Inc. and founder of Women in the Housing & Real Estate Ecosystem (NAWRB), Patno leads the charge toward equal access for women and a level playing field for all.

“We have to look at this not as a feminist movement, or something in which there are too many movements because it becomes a ‘kitchen sink’ kind of thing, but more of an equal access thing,” says Patno. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman, if you’re a person of color, if you’re a Caucasian man, as long as we all have access to equality so that the best person gets the best job. This way, we will be able to achieve a better equilibrium.”

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Personal Interview: Kelle Nolan


1. What do you enjoy doing when you’re out of the office and work isn’t on your mind?

What I most enjoy doing is spending time with my husband and our two dogs. We enjoy being outdoors and going for walks. I enjoy crafting, scrapbooking, and anything that has to do with being creative. These are the top things that I try to concentrate on when I’m trying to relax. I also like to read.

In my crafting I concentrate on rubber-stamping and scrapbooking, paper crafting is how a lot of people refer to it. When I do read it’s usually about self-improvement or motivation. The book I’m currently reading is Be Obsessed Or Be Average by Grant Cardone.

2. What is something most people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out?

I think people would be surprised to find out that I enjoy watching golf tournaments on TV. Most people find them very boring, but I actually like watching them.

3. Who is a role model of yours? Why do you look up to this person?

Professionally I would have to say Jackie de Maria, a former employer of mine. She is definitely a professional role model, she demonstrated to me that a woman in a very high position within an organization that is male-dominated can have it all. Jackie balanced her professional career, home life, children, and was a strong, effective leader. She’s someone I look up to and had as a mentor early on in my career.
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