Episode 306: Empowering Women in Development: Real Estate, Capital, and Confidence with Katie Kim
How Women Business Owners Can Build Wealth Through Real Estate Development
Women's real estate development isn't just for people with hard hats and deep pockets. Land is limited, but your potential to build wealth through ownership? That's unlimited.
Here's something that might surprise you: women business owners are hustling for that 2% of venture capital, while there's this whole other path to wealth that nobody's talking about. Real estate development for women entrepreneurs.
I know, I know. Insert eye roll here. But listen—before you click away, hear me out.
Katie Kim joined me for Episode 306 of the Game On Girlfriend® podcast, and honestly? This conversation changed how I think about building wealth. She's the CEO of The Kim Group, and she's helping women like us—women who run real businesses and have real credibility—use real estate to create income without burning out or giving away chunks of our companies.
In this episode, you'll discover how to leverage economic incentives for real estate, why business growth through real estate makes sense right now, and how one woman turned 50k into 353k in just four years.
The Story That Changed Everything for Women in Real Estate Development
Katie's been in the real estate and construction world for over 30 years. She knows this industry backwards and forwards. And for a long time, she was building... someone else's dream.
She was working in her family's construction business, putting in the hours, doing the work. Then she had a brilliant idea for a development deal and asked her family to invest.
Their response? "We own you. Everything you do is ours."
I mean, can you even imagine? That moment right there became the spark that changed everything.
"How many other women are in that situation where they work their ass off? They get to that level of, okay, now I need to grow again, but now I'm at the edge of my expertise. So they start bringing other people in. A lot of times, people are like, yeah, I'll help you out. I want 20% of your business."
Girlfriend, if that doesn't hit home, I don't know what does.
Maybe you've been there too. You build something real, something valuable. Then suddenly everyone's telling you the only way forward is to give pieces of it away. Katie said no to that story. She decided there had to be another way.
Real Estate Investing for Women Entrepreneurs: A Strategic Business Tool
Okay, so Katie's not telling you to become some real estate mogul or pile more work onto your already overflowing plate. What she IS talking about is understanding how to leverage economic incentives that literally exist to help business owners like you develop property.
Through her developer-for-fee service and Real Estate Development Academy, Katie helps women take their stable or growing businesses and add real estate as an alternative income source. Her framework? "Build your business at three times the scale for one and a half times the cost."
Wait, what? Three times the scale. One and a half times the cost. Read that again.
And here's the thing—the barriers you're imagining probably aren't even real. You don't need:
- A construction background (seriously, you don't)
- Massive piles of cash sitting in the bank
- To give away equity in the business you've worked so hard to build
- To choose between your current business and real estate
- Some special "in" with wealthy developers
What you actually need for women's real estate development:
- A stable or growing business (which gives you credibility—you already have this!)
- To understand how public-private partnerships work (teachable)
- Knowledge of economic incentives for real estate (also teachable)
- The right framework to evaluate opportunities (Katie's got you)
- Someone who's done it before to guide you (that's literally what Katie does)
See what I mean? Most of what you need is knowledge and a framework. And that's exactly what Katie specializes in: teaching women entrepreneurs.
The 50k to 353k Story: Real Results from Real Estate Development
Okay, this story Katie shared? It's the perfect example of what's actually possible when you understand how these systems work.
One of her clients started with 50,000 dollars. Four years later? That same investment turned into 353,000 dollars. From ONE development deal.
Not from getting lucky. Not from some insider connection. From understanding how development deals are structured and knowing which economic incentives to tap into.
That's a 353% return on investment. Let that sink in.
Just think for a second what that kind of return could mean for YOUR business. For your family. For your ability to make choices based on what you actually want, not just what you can afford right now.
Why Women in Real Estate Development Matters Right Now
Look, 70% of small business owners are expecting a recession. Funding for women entrepreneurs? It's getting harder, not easier. Economic anxiety is real, and all the political uncertainty isn't helping anyone sleep better at night.
Meanwhile, the traditional path—pitch investors, cross your fingers, give away equity, hope someone gets your vision—it's keeping most of us locked out of real wealth-building opportunities.
But business growth through real estate? It's different. As Katie put it, it's about investing in the founder, not just the spreadsheet.
"We invest in the founder, right? Anybody can give projections and do math. What's the story behind the numbers? Do you trust that person at the end of the day is going to dig in versus jump out when times get hard?"
Here's what I love about this: The confidence you need to pursue development deals is the SAME confidence that got you through launching your business in the first place. You already know how to figure things out.
You've proven that.
Economic Incentives for Real Estate Nobody Tells Women About
Ready for this? Here's what most women business owners have never even heard of:
- Public-private partnerships that slash your capital requirements
- Tax incentives literally designed to encourage development
- Development fee structures where you get PAID for your expertise
- Economic development programs that support business owners
- Financing structures that minimize your personal risk
These aren't some secret clubs for the wealthy. These tools exist to encourage people like YOU—business owners with credibility, relationships, and expertise—to develop properties that strengthen communities.
The problem? Nobody teaches us this stuff. Business school doesn't cover it. Your network probably hasn't mentioned it. And by the time you're ready to scale, you're already exhausted from everything you're juggling.
Katie's Journey: From Family Business to Real Estate Development Leader
Katie's path from working in the family business to launching her own thing? It's a roadmap for any of us who've ever felt stuck.
"I realized I was grinding for somebody else's dream in my W2. So I thought coming back to the family business, I could help build something that would be mine. Even in a family business structure, I realized I was building somebody else's dream."
She gave her parents a year's notice. She walked away. And she committed to making sure other women don't end up in that same trap.
It's About Heart, Not Just Numbers
One of my favorite moments in our conversation was when Katie talked about what actually drives success in development deals. Spoiler: it's not your spreadsheet.
"It's the heart and the grit because so many times we invest in the founder, right? What's the story behind the numbers?"
This hit me right in the feels because I've seen it firsthand. Back when I was pitching venture capital for startups, the founders who got funding weren't always the ones with perfect numbers. They were the ones who walked in with unshakeable belief in their vision and a commitment to figure things out no matter what.
Katie nailed it when she said:
"It's that accountability to be like, 'No, I have all these people believing in me. I have all these people investing in me. I'm not letting them down. I'm not letting myself down. And then no is not an option. It's like, "What's plan A or B? Which way are we going?"
THAT'S the energy that wins. That's the mindset that creates actual results.
This Isn't Just About Buildings—It's About Community
Here's what really struck me about Katie's approach: she sees development as community building. When she pitched for funding to develop a gas station, she reframed everything around one question: "How do we make this community stronger?"
Real estate development doesn't have to be just about buildings and ROI. It's about creating spaces that serve your community AND build your wealth. These two things don't have to be at odds.
When you look at it this way, everything shifts. You're not just chasing profit anymore. You're creating something that matters while generating wealth at the same time.
Why Human Connection Still Matters (Even With All the AI)
Katie uses AI and technology to help her clients, but she said something during our talk that really stuck with me: We need human connection now more than ever.
Yes, technology can crunch numbers and streamline processes. But it can't replace those moments when a client realizes what's actually possible and starts crying. It can't replace the vulnerable conversations about dreams and fears and what we really want.
"We have AI coming, yes, we do a lot of things with our clients with AI. But we almost need to take a step backwards. What community are you building? What impact are you leaving? That's where people are going to be drawn to you. It's not that you have this really cool AI widget, but with your business side, it's that connection."
This is what creates lasting transformation. The spreadsheets matter, sure. But the relationship? The trust? The belief? That's what makes everything else possible.
Want to Get Started? Here's How
Katie's giving away two free resources to help you figure out if real estate development makes sense for your business. Both are designed to cut through the overwhelm and give you actual clarity.
Free Resource: Deal Development Checklist
This walks you through exactly what to look for when you're evaluating development opportunities. It includes 10 pitfalls to avoid—so you can think strategically without getting paralyzed by all the information out there.
What Makes Katie's Approach Different
Katie's approach to real estate investing differs from traditional real estate investing in several key ways. Understanding these differences helps you see why this path might be more accessible than you think.
Traditional Real Estate Approach:
- Requires massive capital up front
- Focuses on flipping or passive rental income
- Assumes you have construction knowledge
- Treats real estate as separate from your business
- Emphasizes individual deals over strategic portfolio building
Katie's Women Real Estate Development Approach:
- Leverages your existing business credibility
- Uses economic incentives to reduce capital requirements
- Teaches you the framework regardless of background
- Integrates real estate as a strategic business tool
- Focuses on building sustainable wealth over time
The goal isn't to turn you into a full-time developer. Instead, it's about giving you the tools and understanding to create additional income streams that support your existing business and life goals.
The Mission: 1 Billion Dollars for Women
Near the end of our conversation, Katie shared something that gave me literal chills.
"One of my dreams is to get 1 billion dollars of economic incentive into the hands of women business owners. If you can help share the word that we can do this, and you can get paid for doing what you want to do."
One. Billion. Dollars. Just let that number sit with you for a minute.
This isn't about individual wealth or personal success—though those are great. It's about systemic change. It's about getting resources into the hands of women who will do something meaningful with them.
It's about more women building wealth through ownership, not just hustle.
Fortune Really Does Favor the Bold
Running a business? It's not an armchair activity, friend. It takes heart, grit, and the willingness to keep showing up even when you have no idea what the next step is. Some days you're figuring out payroll. Other days, you're dealing with supply chain disasters. Most days, you're just wondering if you're doing any of this right.
But here's the thing: The same qualities that got you through launching your business? Those are exactly what you need for real estate development. Your resilience. Your problem-solving skills. Your ability to figure it out as you go.
"Fortune favors the bold. Always take action, people. Take action."
The women who succeed aren't the ones with all the answers lined up before they start. They're the ones who commit to figuring it out along the way. They're the ones who dig in instead of jumping out when things get tough.
What This Could Actually Mean for Your Life
Think for a second about what a secondary income stream could do. For your business. For your life. For your ability to make decisions based on what you WANT, not just what you can currently afford.
It may mean finally hiring that team member you've been putting off. Maybe it's the cushion that lets you say no to those clients who drain your soul. It could be the breathing room to test that new offer you've been dreaming about but felt too scared to launch.
Real estate development doesn't replace your business. It supports it. It strengthens it. It gives you options you didn't have before.
Ready to Listen? Here's What to Do
Listen to the whole conversation with Katie Kim in Episode 306 of the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Her energy is absolutely infectious. Her expertise is rock solid. And her mission? So inspiring.
Grab her free Deal Development Checklist here. This isn't one of those fluff downloads that sit in your folder forever. It's a practical tool you'll actually use.
This episode is for you if you've ever felt like you're hitting a revenue ceiling. It's for you if you're tired of giving away equity to keep growing. And it's definitely for you if you're ready to build wealth through ownership instead of just hustling harder.
Connect with Katie Kim:
- Website: www.katiekim.com | The Kim Group: www.thekimgroup.com
- Instagram: @thekatiekim | @thekimgroup
- LinkedIn: Katie Kim
- YouTube: The Katie Kim
Let's put more money in the hands of more women. Let's build wealth through ownership. Let's create the financial freedom we've been working toward—one strategic decision at a time.
Because land is limited. But your potential? That's limitless, girlfriend.
About Katie Kim
Katie Kim is the CEO of The Kim Group and founder of The Katie Kim Educational Platform. With over 30 years of experience in real estate and construction, Katie helps business owners and investors confidently structure development deals using public-private partnerships, creative capital stacks, and incentive programs. Through her Developer for Fee model and Real Estate Development Academy, she empowers others to stop playing small and start building strategically. Known as "The Developer’s Developer," Katie is on a mission to make real estate accessible, profitable, and purpose-driven for the next generation of builders.
About Sarah Walton
Sarah Walton is a business coach, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, Effortless Sales, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah's mission is to put more money in the hands of more women while teaching authentic, heart-centered business strategies.
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