DENVER—At the GlobeSt.com Women of Influence conference in Denver, a panel explored the critical need to hire, retain and cultivate female talent within the commercial real estate sector. The discussion underscored the urgency of fostering a more inclusive workforce, emphasizing that now is the time for women to support one another and lead a fundamental cultural shift in the industry.
Jennifer Keen, executive vice president and Western regional manager at IPX1031, moderated the session, which featured an accomplished group of panelists: Dionna Johnson Sallis, executive coach and talent advisor at DJS Advisory; LaVon Johns, partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP; Jessica Levin, managing director of the West Coast at Intercontinental Real Estate; Tori Nook, principal and founder of Anchor Retail; and Briana DeHaan, managing director of debt & equity at Northmarq.
The conversation began by examining innovative approaches to attracting nontraditional talent. Johns shared her firm’s success in hiring women returning to the workforce after taking time off to raise families, describing this group as “an incredible pipeline of talent.” DeHaan echoed this sentiment, explaining that traditional recruiting methods often fall short. Instead, she relies on her network and thinks creatively about candidates’ experiences rather than solely evaluating resumes. Johnson Sallis pointed out the vital need to move beyond bias—especially unconscious bias—when assessing talent, stating, “Nothing makes me cringe more than bias.” She stressed that real progress requires recognizing ability in unconventional ways and redefining what success looks like.
As the dialogue shifted toward advocacy and visibility, Johns highlighted the importance of elevating others within one’s career path. She encouraged attendees to strive not just to be mentors but sponsors. DeHaan added that sponsorship involves reciprocal commitment: those being sponsored must perform and reciprocate support. She noted that sponsorship often comes from men, making it essential to build and maintain these relationships conscientiously.
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