Larson Leadership Initiative

Overview

Through the inspiration and generosity of Bob Larson, ULI has created the ULI Robert C. Larson Leadership Initiative (LLI), funded through the Larson Leadership Endowment. The Endowment was established in 2001 to honor the memory of one of the industry’s leading lights. The Initiative enables ULI to add leadership development activities to its program of work and extend the Institute’s reach to many more current and potential leaders. The Initiative continues to receive support from Bob’s son, Eric B. Larson, founder of Larson Realty Group, and chief executive officer of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Eric is a long-time ULI member and active participant in ULI Michigan.

 

Learn more about Robert C. Larson

https://www.larsonrg.com/legacy

Current Programs

From 2022 through 2025, ULI Learning is developing on-demand courses that support the learning goals of the ULI District Council Centers for Leadership (CFL). Courses will cover leadership in commercial real estate, fundamentals of commercial real estate and land use (e.g., development process, capital markets, real estate finance, design, construction administration) as well as thematic topics in line with ULI’s mission priorities (decarbonization, attainable housing) and other initiatives. These courses help fulfill one of ULI’s three mission priorities: to educate the next generation of diverse real estate leaders. Each participating District Council can decide whether to provide the courses to their current cohort of CFL participants.

Current ULI Centers for Leadership (CFL)

  1. ULI Atlanta – Center for Leadership
  2. ULI Dallas Fort-Worth – Center for Leadership
  3. ULI Michigan – Robert C. Larson Center for Leadership
  4. ULI North Florida – Center for Leadership 
  5. ULI Northwest – Center for Leadership
  6. ULI Southeast Florida/Caribbean – Leadership Institute
  7. ULI Toronto – Curtner Urban Leadership Program
  8. ULI Washington – Leadership Institute

Past Programs

LLI WLI Leadership Summit

The Larson Leadership Initiative (LLI) and the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) partner every ULI Spring Meeting to host a Leadership Summit. Historically, the breakfast event has featured an innovative female real estate or business leader with the intention of showcasing strategies that women have employed to attain leadership roles in their industry and community. The Summit is an invite-only event focused on WLI leaders, Foundation Governors, ULI Board Members, and Trustees.

Emerging Leaders Roundtable

The Emerging Leaders Roundtable is an invitation only event held at the ULI Spring Meeting in which networking sessions are hosted to allow small groups of young emerging leaders to discuss real estate trends and leadership challenges with accomplished, senior-level ULI members. In past, these sessions have been facilitated by Sandy Apgar, a housing, infrastructure, and real estate consultant and former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Army, who has recruited senior ULI members to serve as mentors to the rising professionals.