A Woman's Journey into Commercial Real Estate
- Hailey Widmer
- May 5
- 3 min read
Updated: May 7
The Reality
Imagine a room full of 10 executive leaders sitting at a big round table in a conference room wearing only black suits and ties. A woman walks in and they all look at her in confusion as she is the broker that was just hired for the firm. She is excited to start a new journey and bring all of her knowledgable information about the industry. Throughout the meeting she is getting stares and talked over. The woman now feels uncomfortable and unwanted by her new co-workers. This is something that sadly happens everyday in industries that are male dominant.
It is no secret that the commercial real estate industry is highly male driven. Women make up about 35% of the industry and only 9% only hold C-suite positions. As these numbers are alarming, the real issue is that only 3% of women invest in commercial real estate. Commercial real estate has a long history of being a "Man's World". This title has taken its name simply because the lack of education women have been given in this industry. Women should see this as an opportunity to take a hold in the commercial world and create a footprint for the aspiring women leaders.
Overcoming the Obstacle
As a student studying real estate at the University of San Diego, it has taken a lot of courage to put myself out in the industry. I, myself, and a few of my other peers have to talked about the struggle of imposter syndrome. This is the idea that you feel you don't belong in a certain place or setting because you feel you are not talented or worthy enough to be there. Many women feel this way in highly male dominated places because you are different from your peers, who are more male than female. This can be a huge hurdle to get over because no matter what you do, you feel you can always know more or do better.
I can only speak for myself, but this is something that I am continuing working on. I know that I belong in commercial real estate because I enjoy learning and engaging in the content. As we have already talked about, women don't invest in commercial transactions due to the lack of knowledge in the industry. To fight this stereotype and over come imposter syndrome, it is crucial that we educate ourselves in the industry. I have put myself out of my comfort zone by networking in a room full of men, being apart of clubs and organizations, and taking leadership positions to leverage my strengths before any man can take it.
Advice for Female Students or Aspiring Women Wanting to go into Commercial Real Estate
1. Learn as much as you can!- Take those real estate classes and pay attention! I cannot even begin to express the amount of knowledge and life lessons about real estate that I have learned from my professors. They are extremely knowledgeable people that have lived in experiences of the industry.
2. Go to the Networking events- This took me so long to get to because I was afraid of messing up or saying the wrong thing but they are so fun! Any broker or other real estate related agent has always been so respectful and interesting to talk to. I tend to learn more about market and what a day-to-day looks like in that job field. It is also important to make a lasting impression because relationships go a long ways in business.
3. Join groups or networks- At USD, there are many organizations and clubs to fit any of your interest. I am apart of the Real Estate Society and Women in Business club. These have been a great way to meet new people and go to fun events. Being in an all women's club also helps overcome that imposter syndrome.
4. Be curious- Asking questions and researching new topics is one of the best ways to learn. Women only make up 3% of investors and that is because the lack of education women have received in this topic. To increase that number, it is valuable to keep up with the market and know what to invest and not to invest, so that 3% can increase.
5. SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN- For women to succeed in Commercial Real Estate, it is necessary to support other women. I have sat in on all women panels and every one of them mentions that we must all have each others best interest, so hopefully one day, we can all work our way up to the C-suite.
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