This is an HTML version of an article that ran in the July/August 2013 issue of Real Estate Forum. To see the original story, click here.
Women have certainly come a long way in commercial real estate. Take a look at major industry events, or within CRE offices around the country, and it's evident that the sector has become more diverse. Yet as many advances have been made, there's still more to be done to achieve full equality. The good news is the next generation of leadership, along with the new classes coming into the business, has it in their hands to change the status quo.
Commercial real estate is a great profession for women, and women tend to be very good at it, says Gail S. Ayers, president and CEO of the CREW Network. Still, she adds, “While you're seeing more women in the top levels of commercial real estate, you're still not seeing anything close to the levels that would make you think that the industry is ready for women at the top-level decision-making range. I think that's where you'll see the next 10 years' progress. When that happens, you'll see women at all levels in all sectors of the industry.”
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Sule Aygoren
Aygoren oversees the editorial direction and content for ALM’s Real Estate Media Group, including Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com. In her tenure with ALM, she’s held roles of increasing responsibility, including Managing Editor. Aygoren has received several awards for her coverage including Best Trade Magazine Report from the National Association of Real Estate Editors and the James D. Carper Award for Young Journalists. Under her direction, Forum has received four national NAREE awards for Best Commercial Real Estate Trade Magazine.
