JLL's Hannah Levine, senior manager of editor content in the corporate marketing group

JLL's Hannah Levine, senior manager of editor content in the corporate marketing group, leads editorial content in the Americas for the company. After years as a journalist in New York City covering a wide range of topics—from showbusiness for TheaterMania to city government for the New York Times—she moved to Los Angeles in a bright orange van, without a plan.

“I took the job I could get: general assignment reporter and web editor at the Los Angeles Business Journal, thinking it would be temporary while I looked for a more exciting role. But as I covered stocks and dipped my toes in every other business sector, I became fascinated with following the (literal) money.”

She explained that real estate was the most intriguing of all, “because physical space touches every aspect of our lives. I put myself up for a promotion to lead real estate coverage, and I got it. From there, I was recruited to launch the West Coast wing of The Real Deal, a real estate-only publication, which I grew from scratch to be an active online news site, print magazine and event series. It grew my passion for CRE…so much that I decided to hop over the line and actually join the field I had been covering.”

When asked what CRE topics most excite her, Levine said that right now, urbanization, and how the rising populations in cities are shaping real estate is of interest. “Another is late cycle strategy, and the many different ways that investors are changing course after a 10-year upswing.”

She adds that “the aging population –In the United States, the number of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to double from roughly 50 million today to nearly 100 million by 2060 – also has major CRE implications. How will we build enough hospital space and senior living facilities to meet that demand? It is unchartered territory. I'm also fascinated by the supply chain and how retail and industrial are evolving as ecommerce grows. Those are only a handful. I'm curious about everything.”

Liz Newcomer, marketing manager for the Phoenix market at JLL.

Liz Newcomer, marketing manager for the Phoenix market at JLL, wanted to be a veterinarian when she was a kid. When asked who the biggest influence in her life was, she said that she has always looked up to her older sister, who has been very successful at work and in life. “I've learned a lot from how to be independent and work hard to reach my goals.”

When asked what advice she would give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace, she said, “Don't be afraid to voice your opinion and be assertive. In this male-dominated industry, it's very easy to become a 'yes' person, but challenging coworkers can lead to great things.”

More often than not, she says, “we have to be in charge of our own success, so be assertive in making things happen and don't be afraid to push boundaries instead of doing things the way they've always been done.”