Pay It Forward: "Everyone Needs Help at Some Point, so Just Ask for it When You Need it"
"It’s important to reflect on the feedback that you’re given and leverage it to your advantage," says Taylor Parker, associate, branch manager at Bohler.
Taylor Parker, PE, 35, Bohler, Miami
Title: Associate, Branch Manager.
Area of expertise or focus: Helping developers navigate site planning, site civil engineering design, and entitlements for land development projects throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
What has been the biggest challenge in your particular role and how have you overcome those obstacles/? Often, I’m the only woman in the room or at the construction site. I’ve learned to be bold, assertive, and confident in my knowledge and ability to bring value to every conversation.
As a leader of the Women’s Professional Network, one of Bohler’s employee resource groups, I’ve worked to connect and support women across the firm. Through the Women’s Professional Network, we have a platform to challenge the status quo and the beliefs we have about our own abilities.
I’ve joined my female colleagues in sharing our experiences with the entire firm to bring awareness to the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry and build allyship across the firm.
What about your current role at the company are you most happy with? The fast‐paced development industry excites me and keeps me motivated. I thrive under pressure.
In leading the office, I am most happy with how my team has grown and developed. We have a really strong site design team in Miami, and we collaborate seamlessly with Bohler’s other Florida offices in Boca Raton and Tampa. We’re working together on multiple projects across the state, and I am able to leverage Boca’s survey and landscape architecture teams for my projects in Miami.
The Florida team tackles regional challenges together, and I’m really proud of that synergy.
What is the best piece of advice you have received that has helped you succeed in your industry? Also, do you have any advice specifically for the next generation? The best advice I’ve ever received is to always remember that in this industry, you’re never alone in any situation. You always have a team supporting you, so don’t be afraid to lean into those resources when necessary. Everyone needs help at some point, so just ask for it when you need it.
My advice to others is to not take constructive criticism to heart, but to use it as a tool to improve your skills and better yourself. It’s important to reflect on the feedback that you’re given and leverage it to your advantage.
Would you advise any younger person to begin a career in CRE? Yes! The industry is fast-paced, exciting, and constantly evolving., It’s also extremely rewarding.
The best way for young people to get a foot in the door is to get involved in internships and gain real-world experience while still in college. I also recommend trying a few different areas of CRE to see where you really connect. There are so many opportunities in this industry beyond developing land and selling real estate.
Please share with us the best lessons learned or a surprising component of your unique journey. So far, I am most proud of starting Bohler’s Miami office from the ground up. Bohler provided opportunities that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. I was the lead on building the team, creating the business plan, and cultivating the client base. Today, I have a smart, ambitious team here in Miami, and I’m excited to continue to help them grow, as well as expand Bohler’s presence throughout South Florida.
In your opinion, what takeaways did we learn from the COVID-19 crisis? The biggest takeaway for me was understanding how much people value flexibility with respect to working remotely from home. We have proven that we can be successful in a flexible environment, and it allows staff to achieve a more feasible work/life balance.
What statements would you use to describe your work mindset?
- There’s a solution for every problem.
- Not one of us alone is as smart as all of us together.
- If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you’re determined to learn, no one can stop you.
- We empower the ambitious to become the accomplished! (Bohler’s purpose)
