How Houston’s Power Women Use Diversity And Mentorship To Change The Real Estate Landscape – Bisnow

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If you ask the most powerful women in commercial real estate if they ever imagined they would work in such an industry,most say not in their wildest dreams. We know, we asked. Honorees at Bisnows Inaugural Houston Power Women event may not have planned to end up working in real estate, butthey have helped evolve an old school industry into one that is attracting new talent from every walk of life.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Transwestern Executive Managing Director Jan Sparks, JLL Senior Managing Director Susan Hill, city of Houston Deputy Director of Economic Development Gwen Tillotson, The Richland Cos. CEO Edna Meyer-Nelson, Veritex Bank Senior Vice President Rhonda Sands, Laughlin Consulting Group CEO Elke Laughlin

It boils down to building a team of individuals that are culturally different in race, gender and age, JLL Senior Managing Director Susan Hill said. Real estate is no longer owned by a high net worth private family. Commercial real estate looks different; your team needs to look different.

That diversity can lead to business success. Commercial Real Estate Womens recent white paper backs up what women in Houston are seeing locally. Companies in the top 25% for gender diversity are 15% more likely to have returns above industry median,according to CREW. Women now occupy 43% of commercial real estate positions industry-wide.

Diversity is more than race or gender, its ideas, its background. You need a team with different ideas and different ways of communicating to make sure youre getting the best from everybody, Veritex BankSenior Vice President Rhonda Sands said.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Bisnow Houston Power Women: The Richland Cos.' Edna Meyer-Nelson and JLL's Susan Hill surrounded by the Richland Cos. team Nancy Baugher, Jody Merritt, Clay Steadman, Josephine Duncan, Angie Steadman, Jennifer Theriot and Raven Burleson

In design, financing, investment, construction, management and research, women are making progress as firms continue to diversify, but with that progress comes a new set of challenges.

From the citys perspective, the definition of diversity has evolved, city of Houston Deputy Director of Economic Development Gwen Tillotson said. It used to mean different representations. I think its really important to add inclusion. Everyone needs to feel like they belong. Its one thing to have people who look and sound different, but they have to feel like what they say and do is meaningful.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

City of Houston Deputy Director of Economic Development Gwen Tillotson, The Richland Cos. CEO Edna Meyer-Nelson, Veritex Bank Senior Vice President Rhonda Sands

Inclusion means taking steps beyond merely talking about diversity into using leadership roles to enact change.

Diversity has to be enacted from the top level, so that people know its not just words and a mission statement, Tillotson said. Its important to talk about these things, but its more important to enact them.

One way each honoree is acting onher commitment to diversity and inclusion is byactively promoting mentorship and serving as mentors themselves. None of the panelists expected to end up in commercial real estate, but with the help of a mentor, each has created a space forherself andher firm.

We all love to expound on our knowledge, give us a call! The Richland Cos. CEO Edna Meyer-Nelson said.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Networking at Bisnow's Inaugural Houston Power Women event

Hill said JLL has a robust mentorship and training program, including leadership councils, womens summits, diversity training and advocacy programs. Tranwestern operates a formal national mentorship program of its own, according to Transwestern Executive Managing Director Jan Sparks. Meyer-Nelson takes a more personal approach, hiring an intern from the University of Houstons Bauer School of Real Estate each year.

The avenues for preparing a commercial real estate career these days are so advanced, Sparks said.

Today, for the most part women are playing on the same field as men in Houstons commercial real estate sector. Many women and some ofBisnow's honorees are outearning their male counterparts.As heavy-hitters and C-suite executives, Houstons power women have not only changed the landscape of one of the most male-dominated industries, they are leaving a lasting legacy for the next generation.

Bisnow/Catie Dixon

Bisnow's 2019 Houston Power Women

Congratulations to Bisnow's 2019 Houston Power Women:

Lori Alford, Avanti Senior LivingLaurie Baker, Camden Property TrustLaura Bellows, W.S. Bellows ConstructionLori Bryant, CBREStephanie Burritt, GenslerLynn Davis, Fidelis RealtyDiana Davis, Perkins & WillLilly Golden, Evergreen Commercial RealtySusan Hill, JLLLispah Hogan, Newmark Knight FrankKellie Jenks, TRC Capital PartnersEdna Meyer-Nelson, The Richland Cos.Diane Osan, CannonDesignJane Page, Lionstone InvestmentsSusan Pohl, BarvinLisa Pope Westerman, LUCIDSue Rogers, CRESALauren Rottet, Rottet StudioRhonda Sands, Veritex BankConnie Simmons Taylor, Baker BottsJan Sparks, TranswesternGwen Tillotson, city of HoustonPatricia Will, Belmont Village Senior LivingChrissy Wilson, JLLMichelle Wogan, Transwestern

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How Houston's Power Women Use Diversity And Mentorship To Change The Real Estate Landscape - Bisnow