LeClaire: Why are more women entering commercial real estate at a faster rate?

Amaducci-Adams: Knowledge. Women now understand what job opportunities are available. The workplace is becoming more flexible. There never used to be many female role models in commercial real estate. Now, there’s a lot in that 40 to 50 age group. Women are rising in companies or starting their own companies.

LeClaire: Why do you think the wage gap between men and women is still present?

Amaducci-Adams: Many men are comfortable with a commission-based compensation structure whereas women tend to need a little bit more security and more often prefer a salary with a commission component. Also, it takes a while for women grow into leadership roles and get to the top of their game. Women are several years behind men in this industry. You are not going to become a star overnight in commercial real estate. It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of time. The wage gap is shrinking. We just haven’t caught up yet.

LeClaire: Have women’s roles in commercial real estate evolved?

Amaducci-Adams: Without question. Women are taking leadership roles. Women lead negotiations. Women lead companies. Women are the top producers at various brokerage companies. When I first started in law almost 20 years ago, you didn’t see that many female leaders in commercial real state. All of my clients were men with the exception of one or two. Now, I have a significant number of female clients.

LeClaire: Is CRE still a mail-dominated industry at the leadership or C-level position?

Amaducci-Adams: Many times I walk into a room and I’m the only woman. But it's getting better. In Miami, Donna Abood has her own company. She runs Colliers. Tere Blanca has her company, Then there's Barbara Liberatore Black at CresaPartners. Those are three of the top brokers in town—and they’re all women. So you are seeing women rise. We had a female president of the Latin Builders Association. That's huge. We have female COO at Total Bank. These women can be role models to the next group of women in commercial real estate.

LeClaire: What challenges remain for women in CRE?

Amaducci-Adams: First of all, you have to overcome the presumption women aren't going to take their career seriously and won't be in the workforce for a long time. There have been many women with successful families and careers who are showing employers that this presumption is not necessarily true. But we still have to overcome that hurdle.