Maribel Koella, owner, director, principal of Nai Koella|RM Moore, Knoxville, Tenn.

Koella specializes in appraisal/valuation, development, industrial, investment, land, advisory, buyer representation, and multifamily. She has overcome barriers in the commercial real estate industry to become the first female appraiser for the Tennessee Veteran's Administration and the first female Industrial SIOR in Tennessee.

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle as a woman in your particular role? The reception I encountered as an introverted, 5'4" woman arriving in the business world was often not very receptive let alone welcoming and encouraging. For instance, when I entered the banking field as a newly minted business graduate, I was only offered jobs as a secretary. Or, when, entering real estate, I was assigned roles designed to assure failure, like performing foreclosure appraisals on moonshiners in backwoods Appalachia for the VA. Or, when indicating my intention to specialize in the CRE Industrial Sector, I was met with responses like, "Now, honey, wouldn't you rather work in nice, clean office buildings?" Or, when, despite having fulfilled requirements for a professional certification, I was initially discouraged from applying.