The commercial real estate industry is rapidly becoming more diverse. Not only are women exiting college finding opportunity in the industry, buts successful women from other industries are also making a shift into the CRE space. Courtney Ettus is a prime example. She transitioned from a career in advertising to a role as chief marketing officer at Crexi, and she is sharing her story—and offering advice to others looking to head down a similar path—at the GlobeSt. Elite Women of Influence event in July.

"I come from a non-traditional background, I am not a CRE lifer, having spent my career advertising different businesses across different industries," Ettus tells GlobeSt.com. "I spent my first decade in fashion marketing, my second decade running global Fortune 500 media businesses working for global ad agencies, and finally finding myself as CMO of start-ups in different industries."

She didn't find the industry or the role on her own. She was introduced to Crexi CEO Mike DeGiorgio through a mutual friend. "I had my own consulting business as a fractional CMO and wasn't planning to go back full-time to any business, but once I heard Mike's vision for the industry and Crexi's mission, I was inspired to roll-up my sleeves and get to work. I have a passion for building teams that build businesses and have been able to do so at Crexi," she explains.