Right before Kayla Johnson turned 23, she faced a choice. She’d spent several years in retail services, where e-commerce shaped the pace and promise of the industry. Her supervisors encouraged her to stay the course — promotions, travel and a higher salary were within reach. But family and close associates urged her to consider a path closer to home, one where her people skills and work ethic could build a career she controlled.
Johnson took their advice. She joined St. Louis REALTORS® (SLR) and entered the real estate profession, automatically becoming part of the state and national associations. Nearly nine years later, she says she’s found her place.
“When I came into the industry, there weren’t a lot of 20-year-olds in the association’s leadership,” Johnson said. “I was part of this new generation coming into real estate, and I found my groove through the Young Professionals’ Network. I found an opportunity to lead by example and I took it.”
Broker Tina Siebert met Johnson through YPN, where Siebert mentored young professionals. She said Johnson’s drive stood out early.
“I watched her and her passion stood out from the rest,” Siebert said. “She always came prepared, asked questions, and offered thoughtful responses. That’s why I asked her to join my leadership team.”
Two years after Johnson joined SLR, the national association issued a historic public apology for its role in racial discrimination in housing. SLR followed with its own apology in 2022 during an event held at Harris-Stowe State University. The organization acknowledged its part in restrictive covenants and segregated housing across the region.
The disparities remain. Black homeownership in the U.S. hovers around 45%, compared to 50% for Hispanic Americans, 63% for Asian Americans and 73% for White Americans.
Johnson said the apologies didn’t discourage her. Instead, they sharpened her focus on helping underserved communities access federal, state and local resources that support homeownership and generational wealth.
“We’re nothing without the communities we serve,” Johnson said. “If we’re not offering resources and tools, then we have nothing. Educating underserved communities on ways to build generational wealth is very important to me.”
That commitment is part of why Johnson is running for president-elect of SLR this year. The election process began last month and concluded in mid-August.
Dr. Terrence D. Duncan, business consultant and founder of PMP J.I. Enterprises, said Johnson’s leadership is evident.
“Kayla is a strong leader who is passionate about real estate and economic empowerment,” Duncan said. “Her leadership skills are reflected in the support she receives from the community and her peers.”
Candidates for president-elect must be active members in good standing, have at least four years of service on a committee, council or task force, and two years of experience as an association director. Johnson met the criteria and nominated herself, which is allowed.
During her time with SLR, Johnson has written for the association’s blog, facilitated local events, addressed legislators in Washington, D.C., and traveled to speak on real estate issues. Last month, she joined four other YPN professionals from Georgia for a national webinar. Two years ago, she taught classes at a real estate conference in Boston.
This year, Johnson submitted two proposals for the national association’s annual conference: “Exploring Multigenerational Housing” and “Navigating Neighborhood Change Without Losing Trust,” which she describes as a conversation about gentrification. Her proposal was accepted, and she will speak at NAR NXT in New Orleans this November.
Although the president-elect position is decided by a direct vote of SLR’s membership, Johnson is running her campaign like a political race. She’s attended meet-and-greets, launched social media ads, and promoted her three-tier platform: “Bridge. Empower. Elevate.”
“We need to bridge the gap between our association and the communities we serve,” Johnson said. “We need to empower our members with education, resources and value, and elevate SLR by being the voice of real estate in the region.”
Win or lose, Johnson said her leadership values won’t change.
“You can’t be a good leader without empathy, understanding and courage,” Johnson said. “You must empathize with people, meet them where they are and where they want to go. You must have the courage to want to be that person for them – and lastly, you must be out there loud and proud advocating for people.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.