Black History Month–a time to both reaffirm and uphold the historical importance, achievements and influence of the Black community. All February long, ULI San Francisco joins the nation in commemorating Black History Month, which began as an effort to highlight the history and achievements of Black Americans and others of African descent in the United States.

ULI SF will be continuing its commemoration by highlighting key members of our district council. We are delighted to highlight the careers and contributions of Kim Pipkin and Robert Ogilvie and celebrate their leadership within our community.

Tell us about your career journey.

Attending graduate architecture school at UC Berkeley was meaningful. However, I realized that the daily work of an architect didn’t suit my personality.  I love engaging with people and directed my passion for design into marketing and business development for architects, engineers, and construction firms (AEC).  MBA ready, I was able to land positions with notable Bay Area companies. Years later, I became a partner in a boutique public relations firm whose clients were exclusively commercial and residential real estate brokers and developers (CRE). To sum up my 30-year career journey, I am now in my dream role as Executive Director for Black Developers Forum, a nonprofit that supports and advocates for professionals from the African diaspora.

What advice would you give to someone entering the industry today? 

My advice would vary based on if a person was starting their career or a mid-career professional switching industries or roles.  For example, I would tell an emerging professional to prioritize networking and find like-minded people and organizations. In my opinion, those with limited experience tend to rely on their peers (aka friends) rather than follow their own interests.  I would encourage thinking independently, investigating new opportunities and remain curious.  Figure out ways to pay for your own activities even if your company won’t.

Mid-career professionals are usually clear on what they want to accomplish especially if they are changing industries or leadership positions. My advice would be to increase networking and take on a role in a professional association. For example, volunteer on the membership committee to become familiar with the organization’s mission, who the members are and what they do. But the most important advice I’d share is that professional associations are where you’ll find friends and support. Connecting with people isn’t always about deal making.

How has involvement with ULI has impacted your career?

As a recipient of ULI’s Diversity Fund and being paired with Lisa Kabot as my “buddy”, I was able to engage immediately with the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) Committee. The members of WLI have welcomed and shared valuable professional knowledge with me. Additionally, I attended the ULI/Project REAP Real Estate academy in 2021; a phenomenal program I recommend highly. ULI’s online educational platform is an industry best practice.

ULI is about engagement. ULI has been about so much more for me from meeting new friends to connecting with longstanding ones.  Being involved with ULI has been priceless.

Tell us about your career journey.

I am a native of the small Caribbean Island of Grenada, and have been an immigrant thrice, to Jamaica and then Canada as a child, and to the United States as an adult. I have a B.A. from Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) an M.A. from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Politics from Columbia University. I have taught in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, was VP at ChangeLab Solutions in Oakland, founded the Oakland Office of SPUR, and now run OgilvieLabs. I live in San Francisco.

My life experience has compelled me to develop an ability to understand, learn from, befriend, and find common purpose with people from many economic, ethnic, and national backgrounds. It has also taught me that talent and ability are randomly distributed, but that opportunity and access to the institutions and neighborhoods that people need to help them flourish are not. So, wherever I go I seek out opportunities to correct this by advocating for policies and building neighborhoods and institutions in which people can learn and grow and work together to build more prosperous lives.

Tell us about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the real estate industry.

The world around us has changed. We have more ways to live, work, and be together, and the real estate industry needs people who understand today’s world and who can deliver the sorts of places that we all need.

How has involvement with ULI has impacted your career?

Involvement with ULI – from working with Elliot Stein to create a Healthy Places Exchange Visit with ULI Seattle, to serving as a Young Leadership Group mentor, to helping organize the Housing the Bay Conference and the Bay Area Developers of Color Cohort Program has offered me an unparalleled opportunity to work with, learn from and become friends with some of the most thoughtful and interesting people in the Bay Area. ULI has enriched my life immeasurably.

Thank you, Kim and Robert, for sharing your stories and words of wisdom with us. We are grateful for your leadership and passion in our ULI SF community and beyond!