Leveraging Networks and Skillsets to Succeed
CREW Network Convention’s distinguished leaders roundtable candidly exchanged paths to success, overcoming challenges and lessons learned through experience.
The thought-provoking distinguished leaders roundtable returned this year to the 2020 CREW Network Convention, and the virtual event did not miss a beat. For the roundtable discussion, the organization drew an exclusive group of highly-accomplished women, including Cheryl McKissack Daniel, president and CEO of McKissack & McKissack; Anjee Solanki, national director of retail services at Colliers International; and Nancy Southern, chair and CEO of ATCO Ltd.
The candid discussion explored the challenges that the professionals have faced while working in the industry, and how they’ve overcome those obstacles. The experts also examined the future of commercial real estate and offered their perspectives on what’s needed to impact lasting, true change within the industry.
According to McKissack Daniel, relationships can build your business. “Being along other women who have and deal with issues I have, and being able to sit down with them is so significant for me,” she said. “We come out of those sessions as sisters working together.” That type of relationship, she added, helped to reinforce her as an individual and as a female leader.
Solanki also acknowledged that it is important to engage in female mentorship and leverage communities like CREW to champion one another to a higher goal. “It is up to us to be the collective voice and not the echo.”
When discussing advice for college students who are pursuing the commercial real estate industry, Southern suggested for young professionals to not get hung up on a job description, but to instead, learn all aspects of the role and the business.
Encouraging anyone pursuing CRE to test out different disciplines within the industry, Solanki added, “Your strength or passion or skillset might be better in different places than you think…see what you gravitate towards.”
Furthermore, McKissack Daniel advised for college students to refrain from looking in another lane solely because it has better financial benefits. “Do what you want, find the right path for you and you will excel and be in the place you belong.”
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