Pay It Forward: "Be Prepared!" Advice from CommonWealth Partners' Amber Molina

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle as a woman in your particular role?  There have been times when I haven’t been given the same respect in a meeting full of all men. I can only speak for San Diego, but commercial real estate is a predominantly male-dominated industry, and let’s face it, a predominately Caucasian industry. So when you’re the only female Latina in a meeting and you’re not being addressed directly, or overlooked for input, it gets noticed. I don’t take this personally, as it could very well be an unintentional consequence of the dynamics of our industry. I’ve learned to have the confidence to speak up. Knowing that I’m in that meeting for a purpose and that I have an important role to play in the process is enough to validate that my contributions are important. Once I speak up and provide value to the conversation, it usually helps bring me into the fold, especially once they find out I’ve been in the industry for as long as I have and we have mutual colleagues.

How can the commercial real estate industry improve for women? It will take those in leadership roles to actually want to see a shift in the dynamics of commercial real estate. Leaders have to make a conscious effort to mentor and recruit women and minorities when making hiring and promotion decisions. Women have to support other women, and men have to support women.  Every woman or minority I have met in a leadership role in this industry has been sharp, intelligent, and an expert in their own right. They just need to be provided the same opportunities in order to prove themselves and to ultimately succeed.

How can women better position themselves for success? Always strive to be the most well-prepared person in the room. Continue to educate yourself in an industry that is face-paced and continuously changing. Never make any enemies, as you never know when you will cross paths with someone again.

What is the best piece of advice you have received that has helped you succeed and do you have any advice for the next generation?  I once asked a very successful broker, to what he owed his success to. I was surprised to learn that his answer had nothing to do with his knowledge, experience, or his extensive industry network. He simply said, “ I just treat everyone with the same kindness and respect that I would want to be given”. That answer turned out to be a great piece of advice for me ever since. I would also personally add to this, and say that networking and meeting as many industry colleagues as you can is a valuable tool not only for your career but for life, as I have met many great friends throughout my commercial real estate journey.

What, in particular, can women bring to the table as the industry continues to grapple with this COVID-19 crisis?  Well, we know that having more diverse teams leads to more innovation. We must not limit our talent pool and ensure that women have a voice at the table where COVID-19 decisions are being made. Whether its health-related decisions surrounding the disease or commercial real estate protocol for returning to the workplace. This pandemic is causing a domino effect on every single facet of life and women can bring their experience and point of view to the table.  Data shows that countries with female leadership such as  New Zealand, Germany, & Finland have performed substantially better in controlling the outbreak. There’s no real telling why, but maybe there’s something to be said for the ability to listen to varied information, and all voices.

Would you tell your daughter about how to achieve success in any career? I think that speaks to knowing what your daughter’s strengths are at an early age in order to help foster and encourage how those skills can turn into a career someday. Not just telling her, but showing her how other women or minorities have succeeded in those fields, can help her learn that if others have blazed that trail than she can do it too.