CHICAGO-Even though many professionals plan out their career paths from the get-go, many others arrive in a variety of fields by pure chance. Beth Machen, 2013 president of the Institute of Real Estate Management is one such individual, having arrived in commercial real estate by chance, and then chose to develop her career by learning and continued education – not to mention her personal interest in sustainability. She also feels that women have many innate qualities that make them assets to the field and has noticed how it has diversified over the years. By the same token, she is adamant that a strong character, willingness to challenge perceptions and true passion for the industry can make one successful – she certainly didn't let people shoebox her during the earlier stages of her career. Read on for more.

Part II of her interview will appear on the site tomorrow morning – be sure to check back for the rest of her answers.

1. GlobeSt: What initially attracted you to the world of commercial real estate and how have you developed your career?