In case you missed it, earlier this year, PPR’s Director of Investor Relations, Amy Stavin, was named as one of GlobeSt.’s 2024 Women of Influence. Last month Bill O’Brien, Stefani Baker, and Jalen West jetted off to Lake Tahoe, CA, to attend the annual GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference to celebrate Amy’s recognition, listen to her speak on the panel, Property Ownership: Key Insight From a Disruptive Year, and gather valuable insights from leading women in the commercial real estate industry.
Each year, the GlobeSt. Women of Influence Awards recognizes women in CRE who have significantly impacted the market, and those who have driven the industry to new heights through their successes. The annual conference not only honors recipients of the award, including PPR’s own Amy Stavin, but also brings together women from various sectors within the CRE industry to discuss a variety of topics, from development, leasing and investing, to mentorship, navigating market challenges, workplace environments, and much more.
Read on below for Amy and the team’s takeaways from this year’s conference.
Women Empowering Women
A central theme of the conference was the need for women in the industry to mentor and support one another. Discussions stressed the changing perception of women as competitors, to instead seeing them as valuable collaborators. A participant on Amy’s panel, Rachel Hickenbottom, SVP of Development at Link Logistics Real Estate, shared intimate details of her personal journey to finding her voice – underscoring the importance of supporting female colleagues and working to uplift the entire community together – a sentiment that was echoed by many leaders throughout the conference.
Market Adaptation and Challenges
Of course, the effect of interest rate hikes on the CRE market was another significant topic. Many discussions explored how to pivot strategies in a challenging market, including repurposing developments and maintaining strong client relationships. Amy’s panel also highlighted the importance of transparency and exceptional service to retain clients during economic fluctuations.
Workplace Dynamics and the Importance of Communication
Since the conference focused predominantly on topics affecting the CRE industry, conversations delved into the ongoing debate around remote, hybrid, and fully in-office work models. The consensus among speakers and attendees was that the hybrid working model is the most effective in a post-COVID landscape. Speakers also discussed the importance of clear, effective communication with clients, colleagues, and investors operating from various locations across the country, and capitalizing on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, to share professional and personal announcements with your network.
Networking and Connections
The conference provided a unique opportunity for the PPR team to network with a large group of successful women from a range of industries, not only commercial real estate. Key players in investing, development, finance, legal, marketing, and more attended this year’s event, which allowed our team to make connections with leading women from multiple sectors.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 GlobeSt. Women of Influence Conference offered a comprehensive view of the opportunities and challenges present for women in the CRE industry. The focus on networking and mentorship was particularly noteworthy, making the event both informative and empowering for all who attended. This conference provided invaluable insights into the varied experiences of women in CRE and related industries and showcases the integral role women play in pushing the industry forward.
