Career Development

Women CRE professionals want work environments that meet their needs both inside and outside of the office. Employers must choose to adapt or be left behind.

"I encourage the next generation to learn about all the different types of real estate and choose to focus on either the development or finance side. Once that decision is made, continue growing in that sector," says Thirty Capital Financial CEO Kevin Swill.

"I think it is especially important to challenge, find new ways of working, and be strong in your conviction that just because something has always been done one way doesn't mean that it is right for the future," says Jeremy Bernard, CEO of essensys.

The three Orlando-based brokers join the firm from JLL, where they handled $750 million in transaction volume since January 2021.

"Keep learning and take advantage of opportunities because career paths in commercial real estate are not linear. The best way to position yourself for success is education," says Damla Gerhart, principal and managing director at Avison Young.

"Unconscious bias creeps into every workplace. Although barriers to being welcome and included still exist, it is up to the individual to embrace similarities with colleagues even when they point out differences," says Colliers' Valerie Tatum.

"It's important to reflect on the feedback that you're given and leverage it to your advantage," says Taylor Parker, associate, branch manager at Bohler.

"The best lesson I have learned is to be patient," says Michelle Abramov, managing director of RIPCO Real Estate LLC.