Merri Jo Cowen will deliver a keynote address titled "From Paris to Istanbul" when the International MLS Forum convenes at Raffles Istanbul on November 16–17, 2026, bringing more than 40 years of MLS industry experience and participation in every edition of the forum since its inaugural gathering in Paris.
Cowen serves as Chief Vision Officer at Stellar MLS, Executive Vice President at Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), and current Board President of the Global Data Exchange (GDX). UCO, a subsidiary of Stellar MLS, returns as Title Partner for the third consecutive year, having supported the forum since its inception.
Her central message is that markets can develop organized real estate marketplaces without simply importing the North American MLS model. "What I will be talking about is really focusing on opportunity," Cowen says. "I've seen it all. I just feel like there's nothing we can't overcome if there's a willingness."
The importance of that message lies in what consumers face when no organized listing system exists. The absence of such a framework 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. Cowen cautions against treating the U.S. and Canadian approach as a universal template. "We need to reinforce that it's possible. It's not one size fits all," she says. "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."
She adds: "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. But you have to start. That's the key: start somewhere; it can be done."
Since the Paris forum, 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 GDX. Ahead of Istanbul, FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, has joined GDX. Cowen serves as GDX Board President through 2026 and sees connectivity as a practical way for MLS organizations to broaden member resources while retaining control over their participation. "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 MLSs focused on their local market, she frames cross-border participation as an achievable first step. "There's a huge opportunity here for MLSs to build a network for their agents to expand their business, even if that's all they do," Cowen says. "There's something there that can be done that's relatively simple. It doesn't involve a huge investment, but it will expand the opportunities for their agents."
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." Her invitation to markets considering an MLS and to established organizations exploring international connections is straightforward: "Be curious." Tickets are available now.
The fourth edition of the forum is organized by RESO, ADRES and RealtyFeed and takes place November 16-17, 2026, at Raffles Istanbul.
