Women in CRE Share Inspiring Words of Wisdom
This is the last full week of International Women’s History Month so it seems appropriate to take a breather and shed a little light on women in CRE who have forged new paths and inspired colleagues in the process.
DALLAS—While the world has changed profoundly as of late, this is the last full week of International Women’s History Month. So it seems appropriate to take a breather and shed a little light on the women in commercial real estate who have forged new paths and inspired colleagues in the process.
In that vein, JLL was named a 2020 NAFE Top Company for Executive Women for the fifth consecutive year earlier this month and included in the 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. The firm also launched its JLL Women Inspire campaign, where women leaders and allies around the world share their stories. In this exclusive, Allison Hasselteg, JLL general manager, property management; Evamarie Smith, JLL executive VP/regional director, corporate solutions; Guyla Sineni, JLL vice president, retail brokerage; Kelli Karr, JLL vice president/director of programs (Bank of America); Saadia Sheikh, JLL vice president, office tenant rep and Torrey Littlejohn, JLL executive vice president, tenant representation shared words of wisdom and best practices that can be applicable to all during this tumultuous time.
South Central Region|Dallas
GlobeSt.com: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Hasselteg: Embrace resilience. Change used to be a scary word. I wanted to be in control and know what to expect at every turn. I was nominated for the Big Bet program a few years back and ‘embrace resilience’ was one of the first things my coach and I worked on. A simple adjustment to my daily mindset developed into a passion to be challenged and inadvertently resulted in career growth.
GlobeSt.com: What opportunities does JLL provide for professional growth? How has that helped you succeed in the industry?
Hasselteg: The opportunities are endless, but the most impactful for me are Business Resource Groups/BRGs and mentorship programs. Employees who may not be a manager or leader in their current position have a chance at leadership roles within the BRG, even though they may not be people managers. With the WBN and Building Pride, I had leadership responsibilities before I was in a leadership role at JLL. Through this, I felt more prepared when I became a people manager.
GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give someone starting in CRE?
Hasselteg: Be curious, never stop learning, challenge stereotypes and embrace resilience. No one expects you to know everything, but they will notice when you come prepared with what you believe to be the answer rather than expecting to be told the answer. Our industry is ever-changing so learning to thrive in that type of environment will take you a long way.
GlobeSt.com: Why does inclusion matter to you?
Hasselteg: Everyone needs an ally. I aim to use non-gendered speech in my everyday conversations because we truly are all the same: human. Inclusion also plays a huge role in retaining top talent. Top talent is diverse, so to retain them, we should embrace inclusivity at every opportunity.
GlobeSt.com: How are you inspiring women to achieve their ambitions at JLL?
Hasselteg: I like to offer myself as a resource to help in whatever way they might need. Supporting others, regardless of whether or not I have a resolution, is how my mentors inspired me. And not to beat a dead horse, but I preach to anyone who will listen about the benefits of BRGs.
GlobeSt.com: How did you get into commercial real estate?
Smith: I began my commercial real estate working for regional shopping mall company in the early 90s as an assistant general manager and marketing director.
GlobeSt.com: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Smith: No two days are alike in our business and you must be someone who can hear beyond what your client is willing to say to understand the pain they truly are experiencing.
GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give someone starting in CRE?
Smith: Be a data junkie and see the bigger need that people aren’t even talking about…digital empowerment.
GlobeSt.com: Who is a female inspiration/role model to you and why?
Smith: Babe Didrikson Zaharias, an athlete from Texas. Babe was a natural athlete at any sport she tried. She knew that wouldn’t be enough and that she was willing to dedicate herself to be the very best by putting in long hours of practice. She knew nothing would come easy nor be given to her. She had pure grace and a true competitive spirit in total balance.
GlobeSt.com: Why does inclusion matter to you?
Smith: If you don’t have diversified thought on your team, you should pack up your toys and leave the playground. You won’t have a winning team, period.
GlobeSt.com: How are you inspiring women to achieve their ambitions at JLL?
Smith: For those I interact with either as a coworker, a boss or as a mentor, I try to lead by example and have fun but stand firm on what drives my passion to excel. I bring people with me on my journey.
GlobeSt.com: How do you measure your success?
Smith: If I can show my value and measure it, then I have succeeded.
GlobeSt.com: How did you get into commercial real estate?
Sheikh: Out of college after two internships. I started in 2009 during a bad market but was able to learn the most as the market picked back up.
GlobeSt.com: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Sheikh: Pick one thing to focus on and make it your leading goal with smaller goals to support it: emails for documents, phone and meetings for conversations.
GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give someone starting in CRE?
Sheikh: Find an advocate within the organization to grow from and a mentor outside of the organization to learn from.
GlobeSt.com: Who is a female inspiration/role model to you and why?
Sheikh: Anne Chow, CEO AT&T Business, she is the first woman to be CEO of any AT&T business unit and minority. She has tenacity and graciousness that allows her to lead and give back. She shows women that hard work and helping each other along the way will bring us all higher together.
GlobeSt.com: Why does inclusion matter to you?
Sheikh: Inclusion reflects the diverse world we live in and makes us stronger together. It’s exciting, organic, sparks innovation and really empowers organizations. Being inclusive allows everyone to lead through actions, creating a better environment along the way.
GlobeSt.com: How are you inspiring women to achieve their ambitions at JLL?
Sheikh: The women who work in our division are inspiring each other, including me. The women in our company, with our many lines of communication, are inspiring each other. I hope to inspire the new women joining JLL so they know their ambitions can be achieved here.
GlobeSt.com: How do you measure your success?
Sheikh: The impact I make on the community around me and our client’s lives.
GlobeSt.com: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Littlejohn: The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. It’s greenest where it’s watered.
GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give someone starting in CRE?
Littlejohn: Make sure your work ethic, preparedness and pro-active mindset set you apart from day one. These things have a significant impact on the trajectory of your career.
GlobeSt.com: Why does inclusion matter to you?
Littlejohn: To quote Verna Myers, “Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” The woman at JLL are not only being asked to dance but also extending the invitation to others.
South Central Region|Plano
GlobeSt.com: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Karr: Don’t be afraid to fail, as your effort always teach you something.
GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give someone starting in CRE?
Karr: Try anything and learn everything. It won’t all stick, but will strengthen your foundation to help you end of up where you truly want to be.
GlobeSt.com: Who is a female inspiration/role model to you and why?
Karr: Condoleezza Rice, who is only the second woman to hold the office of secretary of state; being a strong woman in a man’s world and help change the face of the future. Construction is like politics, with a history of male domination. With patience, grace and experience, woman continue to prove themselves, and make great strides and changes for the better in our industry.
GlobeSt.com: Why does inclusion matter to you?
Karr: The more, the better: more experience, more diversity and inclusion, the better we all become.
GlobeSt.com: How are you inspiring women to achieve their ambitions at JLL?
Karr: Make it happen for you, whatever the ‘it’ is…let’s create a path and help you get there. Turn words into reality.
GlobeSt.com: How do you measure your success?
Karr: Knowing I help people achieve their goals, whether personally or professionally, and sharing a little bit of sunshine along the way to make the world a better place.
South Central Region|San Antonio
GlobeSt.com: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Sineni: Never give up and follow your passion.
GlobeSt.com: What advice would you give someone starting in CRE?
Sineni: If you love the work you do, you will never work a day in your life.
GlobeSt.com: Why does inclusion matter to you?
Sineni: It’s the natural and right thing to do.