BELLEVUE, WA—Regardless of the questions asked about their careers, opportunities for women, or the industry, the three accomplished CRE women participating in CREW Network's Distinguished Leaders Roundtable event Wednesday night kept coming back to a single theme: risk-taking. The roundtable was held in conjunction with CREW Network's annual convention, currently taking place here in Bellevue, WA.
The event serves as the organization's version of a “think tank” and is an opportunity to learn from the perspectives of women on the frontlines of change in the industry. This year's 2015 Distinguished Leader honorees are: Sarah Abrams, senior vice president, global real estate, at Iron Mountain; Marty Jones, president and CEO of MassDevelopment; Connie Moore, former president and CEO of BRE Properties, and a board director of BRIDGE Housing.
The panel discussion was moderated by Marci Rossell, former CNBC chief economist, who will also provide a capital markets update during today's lunch program.
The women shared their stories about their beginnings in the CRE industry, pivotal points in their careers, their leadership philosophies, and the obstacles and opportunities women face in commercial real estate. The panelists said that women need to step out of their comfort zones, to figure out what may be holding them back and to have the confidence and self-awareness to play to their strengths.
Abrams used a basketball analogy: “If the game is on the line, and there's three seconds left, you've got to decide whether you want the ball.”
As Moore put it, “Being uncomfortable helps you grow. Those 'butterflies' make you better."
Although women have made much progress at the lower and mid-levels within the industry, the panelists all agreed that change at the C-suite and board levels is not moving quickly enough.
Women often move up only to discover that further advancement is even more difficult. “Sometimes you break the glass ceiling and find there's a glass roof,” said Rossell.
Moore said that strong action is needed to make change happen. She recounted her frustration as a CEO working to build a diverse team, but finding her board positions continually filled by men. Finally, she said, “Why don't we just interview women, and that way, we're sure to make it happen?”
Despite the obstacles, and with Wednesday's report in the Wall Street Journal indicating that, at the current rate, it will take women 100 more years to reach equality with men in the C-suite, attendees were encouraged to take bold steps. CREW Network CEO Gail Ayers, Ph.D., implored the audience to keep moving forward and even to change jobs if their talents and abilities aren't being recognized. “You own your destiny,” she said.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
