economic development. To be an effective actor in this arena, I needed to develop an understanding and expertise in both the public and private "languages" of job creation and retention. This led me to jobs on both sides of public-private transactions. Particularly in NYC, corporate retention and small business growth, alike, are largely dependent on real estate economics.

What are you most intrigued by regarding your work in the industry and in local government?

Being able to understand each party's bottom line considerations is critical to making a deal. What's most fascinating to me is that public and private entities have a difficult time understanding and respecting each other's definitions of what the bottom line is. I enjoy facilitating that communication and watching the resulting transaction come to fruition. To me, it's like a giant puzzle with the associated satisfaction that comes from making the pieces fit together.

Hudson Square is going to change. What developments will have the greatest impact?

Clearly, the biggest change in Hudson Square in the last 80 years will be the recent rezoning which will allow residential and mixed-use development and enable Hudson Square to become a 24/7 neighborhood. It's phenomenal that nestled among some of the most valuable real estate in the world (Soho, Tribeca, Greenwich Village), there was this legacy of the City's industrial past that remained unchanged through dozens of cycles of boom and bust. Creative industries - attracted to our magnificent built environment of solid Class B building stock - led the way. Up until this century, Hudson Square was the City's flailing printing district and an automobile route to the Holland Tunnel. In the next 5-10 years, Hudson Square will be completely transformed. Our $27 million streetscape project will be the key to creating a pedestrian environment, attracting more and more diverse retail and making Hudson Square a real NYC neighborhood.

What has been your biggest challenge with the Hudson Square project so far?

Before the Hudson Square Connection was created, the neighborhood didn't have a voice. Although change was taking place rapidly inside the buildings as advertising, media and design firms began flocking to Hudson Square, there was no advocacy for the attendant changes needed in the public realm. The challenge was further exacerbated by the dominant presence of the Holland Tunnel. Although the Tunnel will remain and continue to function as an important regional transportation facility, we have begun to succeed in changing the image of our streets as access roads, of our sidewalks as places for loading and unloading and of our neighborhood as a place you walk around rather than through.

Finally, what has your experience been as a woman in the commercial real estate industry?

So many times, even to this day, you find yourself the only woman in the room. So many times, you feel patronized or not listened to. But I'm fortunate - I'm assertive and unafraid to stand up for my position (even when I'm secretly at least a little afraid). You just have to know your stuff - especially the numbers - and you have to be true to yourself. I always try to check out the room a little by talking about sports: how a man reacts to a woman who knows a lot about sports will tell you a lot about how he'll react to a woman across the negotiating table. You won't be able to change him, but I've found it gives me a head start in assessing the dynamic.