HOUSTON-It might be drummed into us from day one in this country, but it's true that hard work does bring success. And Transwestern managing director Jan Sparksis a firm believer of working hard in one's chosen field in order to move into positions of increasing responsibility and authority. While it might not be the most fun, preparing and doing one's homework are surefire ways to be on top of meetings, projects and commercial real estate itself, says Sparks, who manages structured finance and real estate capital markets activities throughout the Gulf Coast region. But she wants all to remember that at the end of the day the industry is people-oriented and not just all facts and figures.

Globest: What brought you to the commercial real estate industry and what do you most enjoy about working in this field?

I love the deal-making world of commercial real estate. It is a fast moving, ever evolving industry. The challenges, structuring and problem-solving part of the business is what I thrive on. Transactions can change in an instant and evolve into something completely different, and taking a difficult situation and creating a positive solution is one of the things that keeps our team on our toes. Our field requires that we stay on top of current events and what is happening worldwide, as it directly impacts the lending markets.