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Name: Kia Weatherspoon Company: Determined by Design Title: Design Advocate

Kia Weatherspoon.

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle as a women in your particular role? How have you overcome those obstacles? My biggest obstacle is being a woman of color working in a market segment where my trade, skill and/or craft is not seen as necessary. I also have been challenged to find development partners who mirror me, see value in the services I provide, and recognize me as an ally and resource. I have overcome this by educating myself on affordable housing development and finance so my interior design services can be seen as a necessity on a deal. My passion and mission for equitable design has helped garner their attention. I have a naturally strong voice and have leaned into that. I thrive by making sure unheard stories and voices are heard in interior environments, so I have overcome these obstacles by proving design can make a difference while still meeting the financial parameters of the development deal. Commercial real estate has historically been a challenging industry for women. Little by little that is changing, but where would you say commercial real estate needs to improve for women? This question is always interesting because I think my response is not something you would not expect to hear. My biggest obstacle has been collaborating with other women in higher leadership roles on large deals. Women don't know how to do deals together. They don't know how to bring women in other leadership positions to the table so we can all make money. I think men have learned to navigate how to work together and bring in other male counterparts for financial reward. I want to do more successful development projects with women-led firms in real estate. While it is an uncomfortable challenge to discuss, we need to address it. We really need to have upfront conversations about it, or it is going to continue to be a challenge and an obstacle impeding our professional growth and collective success. |

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Name: Kenisha Robnett Company: RE/MAX Commercial / Platinum Access Title: Executive Vice President

Kenisha Robnett.

How can women better position themselves for success both in general and in your specific area of focus? Women can better position themselves for success in Commercial Real Estate by educating themselves, and not being afraid to get dirty. In the back of my truck I have cowboy boots and a tool bag of goodies to help me when touring a property. Say for example I am touring in an industrial space. I look at every nook and cranny. I check out the roof, the HVAC, the ceiling and walls for moisture, I open the electrical panels, I assess the parking lot, I look at traffic flow, ingress and egress. You name it, I check it out. I have gloves on, and a flashlight in hand. If there is a door, I open it and leave no stone unturned. So prior to my client ever putting money into an inspection, we walk away from our tour with a great idea of the true condition of the space, which gives me great insight to begin negotiating their deal. Many, expect women to show up in a dress and heels, and quickly exit if a place is moldy, dirty. But not me! It's time that more women are the exception to the rule....put your boots on, get in there and shock them! Would you advise your daughter to begin a career in CRE? I would want my daughter to follow her heart and live out her own dreams, however, I would definitely share with her everything she could ever possibly want to know about commercial real estate. So even if she didn't want to pursue this industry as a career, she could still participate as a knowledgable Investor. I would also encourage her to get as much advanced education as she could up front, so she would understand the financial analysis aspect, the terminology, and other pertinent details of the business to help her succeed. As an effort to get a foothold in the industry, I would advise her to pursue the CCIM designation. This prestigious designation is more than you think. Yes, it's advanced education on: financial, analysis, market and investment analysis, as well as negotiations and user decisions; but it's also a camaraderie of industry professionals. CCIM is a great organization to network amongst colleagues, learn about industry changes, economic forecasts, and more. This is the place where relationships are formed, and deals are made nationally and around the world. Finally, if my daughter wanted to pursue a career in CRE, I would find her a mentor far better than myself, someone who would be transparent, give her the in's and out's, make introductions, expose her to dealmakers, and decision-makers. Someone who would allow her to shadow their deals and teach her step-by-step. All of this would definitely set her apart and prepare her for tremendous success in this industry. Now, when I started out, I didn't have any of the above! It was sink or swim, I had to be aggressive to learn, I went to seminars, picked up books, and read from the best. I networked and got out of my comfort zone in order to build relationships and grow my business. This next generation will be able to succeed much quicker because we are more willing to share, teach, and give...this is how we can all continue to grow together. |

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Name: Tamala Herd Company: Bridge Commercial Real Estate Title: Design Manager

Tamala Herd.

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle as a women in your particular role and how have you overcome those obstacles? The greatest obstacle I face in my particular profession is coincidentally about being a woman, but more about the nature of my role. Interior Design is a predominately female industry and embedding that role into CRE, which is a predominately male industry, creates its own set of challenges. These challenges manifest themselves in a variety of ways, but the one that stands out most is the inability to quantitatively define the value of your work. Metrics on leasing velocity, increased net operating income, financial returns at disposition, etc. are all objective data points used to define success or failure in CRE. My particular role doesn't lend itself to being evaluated in the way that is standard for CRE organizations. To overcome that obstacle, I have worked to create spaces that differentiate themselves from competitors through the use of narrative design with a hospitality focus. The designs produced focus, not just on aesthetic appeal, but also on being useful from a business perspective, which allows my unique role to be evaluated in comparison to the competitive set and through feedback from leasing experiences, etc. What is the best piece of advice you have received that has helped you succeed in your industry? A female executive I greatly admire once told me, "You have a finite number of emotional calories that you can expend in a day." Her point was that we must be mindful of how we expend our energy in work and our personal lives so that we can pursue the best outcomes in both. In your career, you will have some great managers, and if you are really fortunate, you will meet a great mentor. My advice to the next generation is to find the person that can push your growth through their mentorship. Nurture that relationship, be inquisitive and learn everything you can. |

Name: Shervonne Cherry Title: Director, Community & Partnerships Company: Spark Baltimore

Shervonne Cherry.

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle as a women in your particular role? How have you overcome those obstacles? For years, I've worked in the tech space in many different capacities. Transitioning to Spark was exciting because it was different, I would be leading the creation of a startup ecosystem within a commercial real estate structure. Being a young female of color added another level of complexity. I am working in a fast-growing, non-traditional industry (coworking) that sometimes clashes with an existing, traditional industry (CRE). It can be a challenge for those who don't understand the changing roles of women in the professional community. The startup industry was a little more diverse, and now, I'm often one of the only women in the room – or woman of color in a leadership position. By focusing on Spark's main goal – supporting small businesses and economic development and growing the Spark community – I am able to provide opportunities through the Spark platform and see positive results. What is the best piece of advice you have received that has helped you succeed in your industry? Stay focused on your goal and don't be afraid to deviate. My background is not historically in real estate or coworking; my journey, starting with a degree in visual communications, has led me to become a support and pillar for small businesses and startups at Spark. I've been grateful to have several wonderful mentors throughout my career, and one piece of advice that stood out to me was 'if you have to deviate, it's fine.' Especially for professionals just starting out, be OK with not directly utilizing your degree. Your initial trajectory will likely change; if you want to go from Point A to Point B, expect to encounter Point A.1 and Point A.2 as well. By embracing these pitstops along the way, you are opening yourself to the possibility of finding a career you love.

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