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I get asked a lot about how I ended up in commercial real estate. Sometimes the question is about strategy or timing, but more often it is quieter. It is women asking if this world is really as intimidating as it looks from the outside.
The truth is, commercial real estate can feel overwhelming at first. Not because the work itself is impossible, but because so much of the industry was not built with women in mind. I wish someone had been more honest with me about that early on, not to scare me, but to prepare me.
One thing I wish more women knew is that confidence does not come before experience. It comes from it. I spent too much time early on thinking I needed to sound a certain way, dress a certain way, or know everything before walking into a room. What actually mattered was showing up consistently, asking thoughtful questions, and doing the work even when no one was clapping for it yet. Confidence followed later.
I also wish someone had told me that being underestimated is not always a disadvantage. There were moments when people assumed I was less experienced or less informed than I actually was. At first, that stung. Over time, I learned to let my preparation speak for me. Deals have a way of leveling the room. Numbers do not care about stereotypes. Results change conversations.
Another thing I wish more women understood is that relationships are everything here. Commercial real estate is not just about properties. It is about people. Trust takes time. So does credibility. You do not need to rush that process. Focus on building real connections, not transactional ones. The relationships you nurture early on often become the ones that support you when deals get complicated or when markets shift.
I wish more women knew that it is okay to move at their own pace. There is pressure in this industry to always be closing, scaling, and expanding. For me, longevity mattered more than speed. I wanted to build something that felt aligned with my life, not something that consumed it. That meant learning when to push and when to pause. Both are skills.
There is also a misconception that you have to become tougher or colder to survive in commercial real estate. That has not been my experience. My intuition, my empathy, and my ability to listen have been assets, not weaknesses. They helped me read rooms, navigate negotiations, and build trust over time. I did not have to abandon who I was to succeed here.
If I could say one last thing to women thinking about entering this space, it would be this. You belong here. Not because you are trying to prove something, but because your perspective adds value. This industry needs more women who lead with clarity, intention, and integrity.
You do not need to have it all figured out on day one. You just need to start, stay curious, and give yourself permission to grow into the role. That is how real careers are built.
xoxo,
Cyn
