The commercial real estate industry is starting to wake up to its diversity of problem. While the CRE industry has lagged behind other industries in addressing diversity, the most recent discussion about racial inequality is helping to spark change, according to Khalif Edwards, managing director and head of capital raising and investor relations at Cityview.

"I do think the recent discussion about racial inequality will help drive more diversity in the CRE industry," Edwards tells GlobeSt.com. "I am fairly optimistic that the CRE industry sees this as an issue that needs to be addressed and will commit the necessary resources and time to really effectuate change."

There isn't necessarily a single reason while CRE is so late to the conversation, but there are clear solutions to increase diversity throughout the industry. "A good first step is to educate minorities and people of color on the opportunities within the commercial real estate industry, including brokerage, capital markets, portfolio management, etc.," says Edwards. "Holding webinars and workshops to educate and highlight various career paths within the CRE industry is extremely important. Due to the CRE industry's lack of diversity in senior leadership positions, many young people of color don't have the role models and mentors, and quite frankly the network, that are needed to gain access to the industry."