The Woman Effect | Opportunity in Commercial Real Estate

by Genieve Posen 

It is no secret that over the past 25 years, women have achieved tremendous strides in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) industry. Historically, CRE has been a predominantly male-dominated industry, which has proven to be slower than other industries to bridge the gap of gender equality. Similar to sister industries such as construction and real estate development, women continue to break the mold of what it means to be a professional in an arena that demands persistence, strength, knowledge and grit.

We have seen women move into leadership roles within the CRE community at a global level. At the local level, it is notable that our very own Debbie Harms, CCIM, SIOR, CPM, has been a significant contributor to the progress. Debbie Harms is the only female top local executive at 13 commercial real estate firms in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When interviewed by Albuquerque Business First in October 2020, Debbie estimated that when she started in the field, maybe 10 out of 100 brokers were women.  As she put it, “Working hard was going to be a driving force behind being successful, regardless if I was a man or woman. I don’t believe that 99% of the people that I dealt with cared if I was a man or a woman. All they cared about was that I was capable and reliable.”

It is no surprise that a leader like Debbie Harms would foster an environment that encourages both men and women to learn, grow and flourish. Five of the most recent brokers to join the team at NAI Maestas & Ward have been female brokers, adding to our existing line-up of outstanding female brokers: Director Shelly Branscom, CCIM; Director, Martha Carpenter; and Senior Advisor, Cheryl Bonner. It is both an exciting time for our company and for the industry. It reveals that new female talent in today’s commercial real estate market is seeking opportunity and the ability to build a career in commercial real estate.

What these young professionals all have in common is a drive for success and a plan to help them achieve their goals. Each new broker has secured the mentorship of senior brokers as well as the support of their asset class team. These internal relationships make the difference when it comes to learning the art of the deal, the development of a business and confidence to make connections. These young brokers may be new to their positions, but they have certainly hit the ground running. They bring fresh perspectives, new insights, innovation and energy to their clients, mentors and peers.

While women bring unique qualities to commercial real estate clients and the dealmaking process, we all know the factors that make a great commercial real estate broker are not specific to gender. Rather, it is key attributes and qualities that will determine long-term success in commercial real estate. The success formula is still the same—do the research, make the calls, foster the relationships, bring success to the client and become a better professional every day.

NAI Maestas & Ward’s most recent Advisors (left to right):
Lisa Mercer, Office Team
Alex Pulliam, Land & Industrial Team
Genieve Posen, Land & Industrial Team
Sarah Raboff, Multifamily Team
Danae Fernandez, Office Team

In addition to Genieve’s  professional insights, she is known for her customer service and her ability to connect people to the right location. With a background in urban development and commercial real estate marketing, she brings vision to value for her clients, impacting the greater Albuquerque business community. 

For more information on land development opportunities, industrial/warehouse space and other asset classes, contact Genieve Posen.

NAI Maestas & Ward is a full-service commercial real estate company serving New Mexico since 1996. The company is a dynamic commercial real estate firm offering best-in-class real estate services in brokerage, property management, asset management, business brokerage and development services.