In this year's 2020 edition of Women of Influence, we have based our selection of nearly 200 candidates on such criteria as career achievements, community outreach and mentorship within the industry. And as we experienced in previous years, we found it hard, to say nothing of humbling, to sift through the applications and select just the right nominees. In the issue, we also spotlighted up-and-coming women in commercial real estate who bear watching. We also spoke further with some of the women about obstacles they face in the industry and advice for others.

This year's Woman to Watch are as follows:

• Blima Enrentreu, founder and CEO of The Designers Group
• Karly Iacono, VP of investments at Marcus & Millichap
• Britt Raymond, a VP at SRS Real Estate Partners
• Lindsay Fierro, SVP of operations at NAI Global
• Meg George, managing partner at Akerman
• Meg Epstein, founder and CEO of CA South
• Danielle Handy, project manager at RocaPoint Partners
• Michelle Dodge, first VP with Truist
• Rachel Johnson, chief information officer at The NRP Group
• Sarah Mayo, senior investor operations manager at CrowdStreet
• Kendall Guinn, chief marketing officer at AQUILA
• Erika Kim, VP of marketing at Avison Young
• Pamela Murphy , director of marketing and public relations at Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services
• Lori Valencia, director of marketing at Matthews Real Estate Investment Services
• Alexandra Williams, a director at Barings
• Vicky Fajardo, a director of operations at Cushman & Wakefield
• Corie Spankowski, director of operations at ARCO/Murray
• Molly Stengel, director of property management at Hughes Development Corp.

When asked how women can better position themselves for success, Raymond tells GlobeSt.com that she would remind women to ask for what they want and what they deserve. "Men excel in confidence and their willingness to ask for business," she says. "Women often wait for opportunities to come to them by relying on their competence and hard work."

As an investment sales agent who focuses on exclusive listings, she notes that it is imperative to tell landlords your goal is to list property for them. "I would also push women in my field to explain to a landlord why they are the best broker for the assignment. Make your goals known as it will make it easier to achieve them."