Last month, I received the 2026 Bisnow Austin Women Leading Real Estate Award. It took me a bit to sit down and write about it, not because I questioned whether I belonged there, but because I wanted to properly reflect on what an extraordinary room it was. The women honored that day were brilliant, accomplished, thoughtful leaders shaping Austin in meaningful ways, and it was genuinely inspiring to stand among them.

The event was held at the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs Headquarters, now simply referred to as “The Mansion.” Built in 1931, the building itself feels like walking through living history. In the entryway hangs a timeline of the organization’s female leadership dating back to 1899.

Of course, I immediately became fascinated by the names and portraits.

One particular name appeared over and over throughout the mansion:

Mrs. Percy Pennybacker.

Make no mistake, I Googled Mrs. Percy Pennybacker.

Anna Pennybacker was a powerhouse. She wrote books on Texas history, influenced generations of women, counted Eleanor Roosevelt among her friends, and became one of the most respected female leaders in Texas. There is even a bridge in Austin, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Pennybacker Bridge, often called the 360 Bridge, named after her son and the legacy of the Pennybacker's influence in Texas.

Yet even now, it is often easier to find information about “Mrs. Percy Pennybacker” than it is about Anna Pennybacker herself.

That says something about the era in which she lived. A woman could shape history, lead movements, write books, and leave a lasting mark on her state, yet still be remembered through her husband’s name. Even so, her influence endured. Her leadership, intellect, and determination helped open doors for the women who followed, leaving a legacy that stretches far beyond a name.

And that was my point.

Her story reminded me so much of my own grandmother, who was widowed young and started her own business out of necessity in the 1950s to support her family. She even needed my great-uncle to co-sign for her bank account before she could open Georgia Harston School of Dance.

Not Mrs. Daniel Harston School of Dance.

As Lisa Rinna would say, she was Georgia MF Harston.

And I loved that about her. Unforgettably Georgia.

This is not meant to sound judgmental at all. It was simply a different era, and my grandmother was one of the strongest-willed women I have ever known. But standing there in that mansion, looking at plaque after plaque identifying accomplished women by their husbands’ names, it struck me how much has changed in a relatively short period of time. It was not until the 1980s that the plaques beneath the portraits finally began using the women’s actual names.

The 1980s.

That really is not that long ago.

Now listen, if you know me, you know I adore my husband Shane, and after more than 30 years of marriage, I am very proud to be his wife. But I could not stop laughing imagining someone announcing:

“And this year’s Bisnow Austin Leader of the Year Award goes to…Mrs. Shane Duke Boring!”

Absolutely not.

As I walked through the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs Headquarters which is now simply called The Mansion, that morning, what struck me most was the contrast between the history hanging on those walls and the ballroom full of women gathered there today. Decades ago, women leaders often stood in the background of someone else’s identity. Now here we were, a room full of women leading some of Austin’s most significant industries.

Civil engineers. Architects. Developers. Sustainability experts. Executives.

And me…the self-storage owner and I honestly, I loved that part.

Because leadership does not come in one package. It does not require one career path, one personality type, or one definition of success. Every woman in that room brought something different to the table, and Austin is better because of it.

As I listened to the conversations and panels throughout the morning, five things really stayed with me.

1. Great leaders are always evolving.

The strongest leaders are not the ones who refuse to change. They are the ones willing to adapt without losing who they are. Leadership today looks very different than it did even five years ago. We are navigating post-Covid realities, multiple generations in the workforce, shifting expectations around flexibility, and a growing need for mentorship delivered with both wisdom and grace.

Nearly every panel speaker referenced Covid in some way. Six years later, we still divide life into “before March 2020” and “after March 2020.” At the time, I do not think any of us fully understood how deeply that season would reshape leadership, business culture, development, and even personal priorities. But it did.

The ripple effects are still influencing how people work, where they live, what they value, and what they expect from employers and communities. The best leaders evolve with the times instead of fighting them.

2. “No” is not always the final answer.

One of the biggest themes throughout the day was resilience. In business, “no” can mean many things. Not now. Not this version. Not with this structure. Not from this person.

Learning how to navigate setbacks without immediately accepting defeat is part of leadership. Persistence, creativity and timing all matter. Of course, some no’s truly are final. We all know the difference. But many opportunities exist because someone chose not to stop at the first obstacle.

3. Austin is still thriving.

Austin may not currently be the investor darling everyone talked about five years ago, but the city is still growing, creating, and evolving. One of the most interesting conversations centered around how much expectations have changed regarding the spaces people inhabit every day. Employees and residents want more than functionality now. They want experiences. They want beauty. They want walkability, recreation, connection, and environments that actually feel enjoyable.

Apparently nobody wants fluorescent lighting, beige cubicles, and sad elevator music anymore.

Shocking, I know.

Austin is adjusting to those changes, and honestly, that evolution feels exciting.

4. You have to pick up the shovel.

One speaker made a comment that stayed with me all day: “You have to pick up the shovel. No one is going to pick it up for you.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how true that is in business and leadership. At some point, nobody is coming to hand you confidence or perfect timing. Nobody is going to make the hard phone call, build the business, make the investment, or create the opportunity for you. Leadership eventually requires action, even before you feel fully ready for it.

Honestly, I think women especially struggle with this sometimes. Many incredibly capable women spend years waiting until they feel completely prepared before stepping forward, while other people simply start before they know exactly what they are doing.

This may have been the most meaningful takeaway for me. I sat beside a gifted architect who has helped shape Austin’s downtown skyline in beautiful and sustainable ways. As we talked, she quietly admitted she was surprised to be there.

Meanwhile, I am sitting beside her thinking, “You helped shape one of the fastest-growing cities in America. Of course you belong here.”

But her humility stayed with me because I think many brilliant people spend so much time focused on the work itself that they rarely stop to recognize the significance of what they have actually accomplished.

The women in that room were not there by accident. They had earned their seats, every single one of them. And somewhere during that day, I think I finally realized I had earned mine too.

So there we have it.

Five things I learned from receiving the 2026 Bisnow Austin Women Leading Real Estate Award.

It was a day filled with thoughtful conversations, inspiring leadership, laughter, reflection, and a deep appreciation for how far women have come in business and leadership in a relatively short period of time.

I left feeling grateful, encouraged, and genuinely excited about the future of Austin and the women helping shape it.