Women of Influence

"Women must become allies to one another, sharing valuable experiences and encouraging each other to take on new challenges," says Kate Keller of Keller Augusta.

It will focus on providing capital to Black-led affordable housing developers, as part of Goldman Sachs' One Million Black Women initiative.

"Be sure to learn from and develop strong mentoring relationships with those around you. In the end, you are only as good as the team you are working on and with," says Bonnie Neuman of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.

"But motherhood has actually made me better, as the balancing act that is needed with kids is similar to the one needed to manage a full plate of transactions," says Michelle M. McAtee, partner at Jenner & Block.

"I think the key to successful business development is to advise your clients as though you are their internal counsel, and regard their issues as though they are your own," says Jennifer M. Kiely of Mintz.

"I have found the most professional growth during the pandemic by serving on CLE panels," says MaryBeth Heydt, partner at DTO Law.

"The best part of the job is being able to see the tangible results," says Nichole D. Cortese of Loeb & Loeb in New York City.

Commercial real estate has traditionally been a difficult field for women, however, gender equality within the industry is slowly improving, thanks to trail-blazing professionals.