ATLANTA—After gaining a reputation for decades as a “good old boys club,” women have made their mark on the industry, especially with groups like Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). But there' still a long way to go, hence a growing and conscious emphasis on diversity in the industry.

Only 14% of the Urban Land Instiute's CEO members are women, but 93% of these women lead companies with less than 100 employees. The biggest driver of diversity: It's the right thing to do. Companies that embrace diversity are potentially broadening their client base.

“In real estate, especially commercial real estate, deals often come together based upon 'who you know' or what is sometimes referred to as a network or center of influence,” Amy Ringsdorf, an attorney at real estate company ReeceNichols who is leading the firm's initiative to create a more diverse agent base to serve future buyers and sellers and reflect the communities it serves, tells GlobeSt.com. “The quickest way to expand a company's center of influence, thereby better serving existing and new clients, is to become more diverse, hiring individuals whose centers of influence are different from those that exist at the company. Not only will service improve, but a company's client base will also expand.”