Women occupy approximately 37% of the professional roles in commercial real estate (CRE) industry, according to Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, the leading producer of research on gender and diversity in this business. CREW Network research indicates a growing generation of young women professionals are entering the CRE field with more women aspiring to reach the C-suite.
As the commercial real estate industry continues to recognize the benefits of hiring diverse talents, more commercial real estate firms are creating opportunities for women to excel and achieve their CRE career goals. In the last 10 years, I have seen the industry transform. It has become more inclusive and there has been a significant uptick in the number of women who have chosen to pursue long-term careers and leadership roles in our field.
The Critical Role of Role Models
In 2015, immediately after graduating from college with a degree in finance and international business, I started my CRE career in the servicing sector. A few years later, I attended a CRE Finance Council Women’s Network Event, where I met the former female head of the Mount Street Atlanta office. I was impressed with her level of expertise and depth of industry experience and actively pursued a career with this global, award-winning firm.
Over the past decade, I have worked very hard to surround myself with a strong network of role models and mentors. Building a core network of professionals who believe in you, push and inspire you can lead to achieving long-term career goals and higher levels of success.
Mount Street does a great job of globally empowering women by placing them in key leadership roles and exposing them to a variety of lenders and assets under management. Earlier this year, Mount Street promoted Serenity Morley to the newly created role of global chief operating officer.
Recently, the firm hired Deborah Schiavo as the new managing director of U.S. Client Relationship Management. Notably, Deb was a member of the first class to receive the Mortgage Banker Association’s Commercial Certified Mortgage Servicer (CCMS) designation in 2013.
Serenity, Deb and I have long-term track records in the CRE servicing industry. We pride ourselves on showcasing the power of persistence while offering a supportive, inclusive environment that gives women a voice in the commercial real estate industry.
Internships Offer Insights and Career Opportunities
One of the best ways to gain exposure to the commercial real estate industry and see if it is a good career fit for you is to secure an internship within the field. Internships offer insights into potential career prospects, increase awareness and highlight a path forward for professional success.
The servicing side of the CRE industry is a great place for talented women who are looking to enter this field. Loan servicing internships can offer exposure to core competencies across servicing and asset management solutions, as well as provide an up-close look at CRE asset types and a variety of lender organizations.
As Mount Street U.S. continues to expand our assets under management, we also continue to look for talented candidates and are actively working to build our internship offerings.
Gather Support and Take Care of Yourself
Over the next five years, the window of opportunity is going to increase for women who seek a successful career in the commercial real estate industry. Personally, I hope that more women seek leadership positions in the servicing sector to help us innovate and advance industry practices.
As the industry continues to evolve, I firmly believe that women who choose long-term CRE careers will have the ability to thrive both professionally and personally. Knowing your worth in this industry, building upon previous work experience and continually improving your skills will ultimately enhance your long-term CRE career outlook.
Because this is a very project-driven industry, it can be challenging to manage the ongoing work cycle. To that end, I encourage all my team members to take care of themselves, lift each other up and gather the support they need from their professional networks and families.
Strategically surrounding yourself with supportive, nurturing communities is very empowering.
Lorena Killian
Director
Mount Street US Asset Management Services
lorena.killian@mountstreet.com
(470)890-5188
