These Women Now Know CRE is the Industry They Are Passionate About

Part 4 of 4

We recently sat down with a few of the strong, smart, and ambitious women of JLL. Part four in a four part series includes:  Janice Cimbalo, SVP in Los Angeles; Shauna Mattis, SVP in Los Angeles; Nicole Mihalka, managing director in Los Angeles; Misty Moore, EVP in San Diego; Vicki Robinson, VP in Phoenix, Arizona; and Kris Smith, Associate in Irvine, CA.

GlobeSt.com: How did you get into commercial real estate?

Mattis: I met a boy. During an interview for my first job, I met the man who is now my husband. I wasn’t initially very excited about the job, but I determined I would take it so I could get to know him better. It was at a small local brokerage firm in West Los Angeles and they needed someone who could quote rental rates when the brokers were out of the office. They actually paid for me to get my license. Eventually, I was given an opportunity to be a broker and the rest is now history.

Mihalka: When I was 12 years old, I helped my mom look for our new house. Before realtor.com and Redfin existed, that meant searching the real estate section of the paper every day. I loved it. After college, I fell into technology sales but with the dot-com bust looming, I left tech sales and took a “safe” corporate job in the marketing department of a top company but then everyone was laid off.  After considering a career as a Hollywood agent, I was engaged by a sales placement firm mentioned commercial real estate as a career option. I imagined selling a high-rise office tower. In 2001, I was placed at DAUM (a regional industrial firm) in Woodland Hills, but managed to establish a market presence in Hollywood.  In 2009, I met Carl Muhlstein at a broker roundtable at the Mayor’s office. He reached out to me after that meeting, and suggested that I blend my “street brokerage” practice with a larger platform.  And so I did joining his team!

Moore: Completely randomly. I met a guy through a friend of a friend who ran a boutique tenant representation brokerage firm and his only hiring criteria was being a UC San Diego grad. I had just graduated in June of 1998 and he hired me that August. I’m still in the business 20 years later so I guess it was the right fit!

Robinson: A broker named John Pierson, who had just started to work for the Staubach Co. took a chance and hired me to do business development for him. Within two years, I was getting more involved in lease transaction work and here I am 18 years later, handling lease transactions for two major accounts in the Phoenix office.

GlobeSt.com: How has JLL and the industry supported you as a women in business?

Cimbalo:  Joining JLL almost nine years ago, it remains apparent that the company places significant and increasing value on recruiting and fostering women in the workplace. This, along with the company’s focus on assisting professionals to recognize/employ their strengths and providing opportunities that are a win-win for individuals and teams, is a step in the right direction toward utilizing the unique abilities of women to create more for the individual and for JLL as a whole.

Mattis: From day one, JLL has been encouraging of my success and supportive of my professional goals and ambitions. In addition, as a mother of younger children still, I have carpool duties at least once a week. My JLL team has no problem with me fulfilling those responsibilities and allows me to work remotely on that day.

Robinson: I’ve been given the opportunity to work on two incredible accounts managing portfolios for State of Arizona and Banner Health. It has been an exciting opportunity to get to work with these clients.

Smith: First and foremost, JLL was the first company to recognize the benefits I would bring to the industrial sector. I can’t say this had anything to do with being male or female and to me that is almost more important. The company has been very supportive and I have an incredible mentor. At the end of the day, I am a working mother with the ability to be efficient with my time, to multi-task and communicate effectively, which allows for a lot to get accomplished in a day.

GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give to young women to succeed in the workplace?

Cimbalo:  Recognize what you’re good at and continue to utilize those unique assets toward pursuing your goals.

Mihalka: Don’t shy away from your goals or intended career because you plan on starting a family someday. Find a supportive team who will help you succeed. Women are great on focusing on what’s important to get stuff done.

Moore: Get a mentor, work hard, ask questions, be humble and be tenacious.

Smith: Know what you’re passionate about. If you don’t know, do some research, meet as many people and ask as many questions as you can until you find something that inspires you.

GlobeSt.com: Who was the biggest influence in your life?

Cimbalo: Both of my parents, each of whom contributed in different and complimentary ways.  My parents are both teachers, and shared the value of education as a way to achieve your dreams in life. My mom is one of the strongest women I know and her consistent message exuded strength and the unwavering idea that I could do anything I set my mind to and worked for – the fact that I was female was irrelevant to that message.  As for my father, he steadily conveyed the importance of a variety of interpersonal skills to assist business and personal interactions.  They are my heroes.

Mattis: My grandparents as they taught me the value of working hard to achieve your goals and ambitions. I never expect life to be easy and understand no one will “give” me anything I don’t deserve. This ethic serves me well with my career and clients. I understand they have options out there and I never take for granted the relationship – I actively work to keep it.

Moore: Professionally, it was Brian Walsh and Bill Fleck, my two commercial real estate mentors who I will be forever grateful to for teaching me the business, and to always fight for the client‘s best interests.

Smith: Without a doubt, my mother is the biggest influence in my life. She was raised in an affluent family in NY where she went to school, got married and had my two older brothers and me all before moving to California when I was three. She raised us as a single mother along with the love and support of our Grandparents. She has taught me the importance love, family, respect and communication.