Merri Jo Cowen, Chief Vision Officer at Stellar MLS and Executive Vice President at Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), will deliver a keynote address titled “From Paris to Istanbul” at the International MLS Forum in Istanbul on November 16–17, 2026. The forum, now in its fourth edition, brings together MLS leaders, real estate organizations and technology providers from around the world to build more connected, transparent property marketplaces.
Cowen’s message is that markets can develop organized real estate marketplaces without simply importing the North American MLS model. With more than 40 years in the MLS industry and participation in every edition of the forum since its inaugural gathering in Paris, she cautions against treating the U.S. and Canadian approach as a universal template. “The model we have here in the United States and Canada is not necessarily the perfect model for another global entity, but it’s possible,” Cowen says. “If you sit down and figure out what your market needs, and then you have some help pulling that together, you can start that framework of an MLS that can evolve to where you want it to go.”
UCO, a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, returns as Title Partner for the third consecutive year, having supported the forum since its inception. Since the Paris gathering, conversations have turned into agreements. At last year’s forum in Toronto, Stellar MLS was one of five organizations from the U.S., Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates to sign the cross-border data share that launched the Global Data Exchange (GDX). Ahead of Istanbul, FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, has joined GDX. Cowen serves as GDX Board President through 2026. “I think it’s going to open a lot of doors for agents and brokers all across the globe to connect with potential buyers and sellers,” she says.
For consumers, the absence of an organized listing system can mean fragmented property information, inconsistent prices and uncertainty about whom to trust. “A buyer could see the same property at five different prices, listed by five different agents,” Cowen says. “How do they know who the best agent is to work with?” An MLS can provide a framework for shared listing information and professional cooperation, but the right structure depends on local laws, business practices and market needs. Through UCO, Cowen and her team work with international organizations exploring how to establish or strengthen organized real estate marketplaces, going beyond software to address rules, governance, data practices and relationships needed to make cooperation viable over time.
Cowen believes in-person gatherings can turn an initial conversation into an idea worth pursuing. “It’s not just business building through networking. It’s the excitement that comes from an idea, or learning something new, or hearing a success story,” she says. “It motivates others to move forward and continue building.” As the fourth International MLS Forum approaches, her invitation to markets considering an MLS and to established organizations exploring international connections is straightforward: “Be curious.” Tickets are available now.
