At the GlobeSt.com Women of Influence Conference in Denver, industry veteran Jennifer E. Nichols offered an unflinching look at what it takes to succeed as a woman in commercial real estate. Drawing on two decades of experience, Nichols spoke during the “Real Talk: Navigating the Real Estate Industry” panel, where she shared stories both candid and empowering, underscoring the challenges women continue to face—and the strategies that have helped her overcome them.
Nichols’s advice ranged from daily interactions to broader issues of leadership and workplace bias. She urged women to stop apologizing reflexively, advocating for simple alternatives. “If you’re not doing something malicious—say, you accidentally walk in front of someone—don’t say ‘sorry.’ Say ‘excuse me,’” she said.
Maintaining one’s physical and metaphorical space in a male-dominated field is another lesson that Nichols has learned. She encouraged women not to move aside for men in the hallway automatically. “Have a bit of a stand-off. You belong in that space just as much as he does.” In meetings, Nichols recommended asserting one’s voice, sharing a retort she has used when interrupted: “I’m sorry—did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?”
Nichols emphasized the value of authenticity, honesty, and directness in leadership, qualities she sees as essential for mentors and managers. “I’m not the kind of leader who tells you you’re doing great if you’re not. There’s a way to be direct and honest—and still kind,” she explained.
Addressing gender dynamics in the workplace, Nichols was frank about persistent biases. “Women are generally easier to manage than men. There tends to be more ‘upward fighting’ from men,” she noted. She observed that requests for help from men are often taken more seriously than those from women—a disparity she believes still shapes the industry.
Drawing from her own career, Nichols recounted often being the only woman in the room—and the one expected to take notes. To change that pattern, she began assigning note-taking responsibilities to the most junior male in the meeting, closing the discussion on the issue. “Note-taking should be a shared responsibility,” she said.
Nichols also described the common experience of sharing ideas in meetings only to have them ignored until repeated by a male colleague—a frustration she says remains all too familiar. “I’ve been in countless meetings where I’ve said something and it’s overlooked—then a man repeats it, and suddenly it’s brilliant.”
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