WILD—Women in Industrial, Logistics and Development—was founded earlier this year to fill a noticeable gap in the world of industrial real estate. Amanda Eastwick, director of logistics & industrial at Cushman & Wakefield, saw firsthand how few women had access to a real, supportive community in this specialized sector. Although women are gaining ground in commercial real estate as a whole, their numbers and visibility in industrial, logistics and related development roles remain small. WILD was created to provide a network and a platform focused on these areas so females can connect, share knowledge and help each other move forward.
The idea began when Eastwick realized many women in industrial real estate often felt isolated. Through her own experience on smaller women’s committees and in national groups like CREW, she witnessed how women grew more confident when given a consistent network and a space to share ideas. Eastwick decided the sector needed something focused—one group dedicated to the unique challenges and opportunities found in industrial and logistics roles. She explained that she wanted the next generation of women in this field to have a better path. Rather than waiting for a bigger industry group to do it, she pitched the idea for WILD earlier this year to her peers, who quickly came on board to help build it out.
Unlike other, broader real estate groups, WILD is deliberately narrow in its focus. Only professionals whose work directly relates to industrial real estate, logistics, or development are eligible to join. Eastwick believes the specificity is what gives WILD its energy—the people involved truly understand the projects, legislation and trends shaping industrial today.
“We don’t want to scale out and water down the purpose. This is about industrial,” she said. Interest grew quickly after a few initial posts on LinkedIn and a short feature in industry news, and Eastwick was surprised by how many women reached out, wanting to join or support the launch. Even before the official launch, the group received invitations to partner from national associations, further validation that the industry saw value in the mission.
With a soft launch schedule in the coming weeks, WILD’s early programming is practical and meant to help at all experience levels. There are events like the “Build Her” series, which highlights the nuts and bolts of development topics with an opening session focused on the difficulties of securing power for large-scale facilities—a challenge that is “front and center” as more manufacturers and data centers compete for resources.
Regular in-person networking, a golf clinic meant to demystify one of the industry’s favorite informal meeting places and educational seminars about industry changes are all on the schedule.
Eastwick is also quick to emphasize WILD’s commitment to virtual participation, which allows women from across the country to join key sessions and network even if they are far from major industrial hubs.
The group offers multiple membership tiers, ranging from a virtual membership at $99 a year to higher levels for mid-career and executive professionals. The associate membership, aimed at women with less than three years of experience, is designed to bring more young professionals into the industry and connect them to mentors early in their careers. Eastwick believes this will have the biggest long-term impact on representation in the field.
Eastwick does not pretend the group will solve all of the sector’s problems overnight, but she does see WILD as a place for realistic progress. She is clear that the organization’s focus is on opportunity, not obstacles; her narrative is not about the barriers women face, but about the ways they can shape the industry moving forward.
“Industrial is where the future of business is being built,” she said. “Women aren’t waiting for anyone to invite us in. We’re taking part in building it.”
Early signs show strong interest: the first event for WILD received around fifty responses and drew positive feedback from both established professionals and new entrants to the field. Applications and emails from prospective members began arriving as soon as WILD’s existence was publicized, confirming there was pent-up demand for something like this.
For Eastwick, the founding board is proof of why the group matters. It’s made up of women with a range of backgrounds—developers, brokers, lenders and logistics specialists—each contributing their expertise to WILD’s purpose. She credits the board’s collective energy and mix of skills with making WILD greater than any one founder or voice. The goal is to see women leading across every area of the industrial sector, from site selection and development to logistics, policy and the boardroom. She hopes that someday, WILD will become a true national platform, both online and in person, so women can be visible leaders in an industry that is rapidly changing and often overlooked from the outside.
In creating WILD, Amanda Eastwick and the founding members are not just acknowledging the past—they are attempting to build a clearer, more inclusive path for the generation that comes next. For women curious about where they fit in the world of industrial real estate, her advice is straightforward: “Find your network. Don’t wait for someone else to make room. Join us and help shape what comes next.”
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