What advice do you have for young women aspiring to enter commercial real estate? Ask questions. Become an expert in the role you want. Be the type of colleague you’d want to work with. Trust your instincts and stand your ground. Surround yourself with strong, capable, generous people – at work and at home.
What recent project, transaction, or accomplishment are you most proud of? As a commercial litigator, I am always pleased when litigation can be used as an effective tool or otherwise resolved in order to advance my client’s commercial development or project. By way of example, I recently resolved litigation enabling a developer client to reinstate expired development and easement rights to complete a condominium project.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in commercial real estate? One challenge I faced, particularly as a young woman in commercial real estate, was being underestimated in negotiations. As I developed in my career and gained more confidence and competence, this became an opportunity rather than a challenge as I could see the expectations of others being shattered.
What recent project, transaction, or accomplishment are you most proud of? I have served as the lead counsel for over a decade on an ongoing master plan development project known as “On The Dot” to transform 21 acres near the Andrew Square MBTA station in South Boston.
What recent project, transaction, or accomplishment are you most proud of? One of my proudest achievements is the work Nickerson is doing within the proptech space. As technology continues to shape the built environment, it’s inspiring to collaborate with groups who are changing the industry
What is your vision for the future of women in commercial real estate? My vision for the future of women in commercial real estate is to look around at a conference of a few hundred people and find that I’m not just one of a few dozen women in the room.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in commercial real estate? In an industry where revenue-producing roles often dominate decision-making, it can be difficult to demonstrate the strategic impact of marketing, operations, and other specialty and supportive functions.
What recent project, transaction, or accomplishment are you most proud of? I’m currently engaged in two projects that I’m particularly proud of. The first involves helping a client identify a new headquarters location, a process that has been underway for the past eight months.
What recent project, transaction, or accomplishment are you most proud of? Entering the commercial lending field brings an enormous responsibility, as you will have the opportunity to change lives. It can happen in many ways, but it always begins with understanding your customer’s needs and desires.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in commercial real estate? I’ve been fortunate to spend most of my career at Cummings, where I feel highly valued as an equal. All working professionals will face challenges on the job until they realize that the relationships we build are just as important as the hard work we do.
