Name: Gerry-Lynn Darcy
Title: Senior Vice President
Company Name: Lupoli Companies
Years in real estate: 22
Real estate associations or organizations you’re a member of: CREW Boston
Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? My father–he is a 2nd generation immigrant who was the first in his family to attend college. He took changes based on calculated risks and followed his heart leaving a secure career behind as a controller in a fast-growing computer company to open his own real estate and construction shop with a deep-seated passion to be a successful developer. His perseverance and determination led to great successes (and failures) and at a very early age not only did I have the benefit of watching my father build a business but I also learned about the industry firsthand. Not only did my father teach me about land development, design and construction he also showed me that setting goals while learning from mistakes forms the basis of entrepreneurialism.
What honor, achievement or recognition means the most to you and why? It was a privilege to be recognized at the Annual Women of Legacy Luncheon by the YWCA in 2017 as part of an outstanding and remarkable group of women honored for their inspiring contributions in both their professions and communities. I feel blessed to be a part of an amazing network of women who support and celebrate each other. I have focused a lot of my attention on helping young women navigate the challenges of balancing work and family. I strongly believe that we have to mentor young women with career development and personal goal setting. The YWCA makes a difference in so many lives by offering programs that nurture young women as they make their way.
What is the best advice you have received, and who was it from? Be resourceful, resilient and reliable. Take time to reflect and learn from your past as you approach new challenges in the future. Forgiveness sets you free…. My father.
What are some of the benefits of being a mentor or having a mentor? I have realized that life is truly about relationships. Whether you look at it from a personal or professional perspective our relationships which can often evolve out of mentorship provide us with a strong and supportive network that we rely as we make our way. Learning from someone is far more valuable than learning from a book or a program. Human context and the sensory impact of connecting with a mentor is worth more than we realize. Regardless of how progressive we become as a society with the advent of new technology mentoring will never lose its purpose as a fundamental requirement for both personal and professional development.
What recent project or transaction are you most proud of? Working with renowned Morris Cohen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, Christine Ortiz and Historian Dr. Ellan Spero who as co-founders of Station1 kicked off their inaugural cohort at our mixed-use complex, Riverwalk. Lupoli Companies supported Station1 by providing a rich and culturally diverse backdrop with classroom space and short-term residency. Working with Christine and Ellan as they unveiled their nonprofit educational institution focused on building a new model of higher education based on inclusion and equity, learning through frontier project-based inquiry and research, and the integration science and technology with social impact was eye-opening to say the least. Station1 which creates and implements transformative education, research, and internship programs that educate a diverse range of students and fosters meaningful careers and lifelong learning in our changing world is blazing the trail for stem-based learning. Being the home base for this exceptional undergraduate program where students carried out exciting socially-directed research and development projects in emerging fields of science and technology, including biotechnology, space technology, agricultural technology, civic technology, civil engineering and rural infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and digital automation was a privilege and an honor. I am looking forward to the next chapter of Station1 as it continues to draw international attention.