Commercial Theater Highlights – Women: Breaking Ground, Sharing Strategies

The Groundbreaking Women in Commercial Real Estate panel spotlighted three leading Chicago commercial practitioners. Jimena Sayavedra of Paine Wetzel, Rosemary Swierk of Direct Steel and Construction, and Ashley Donat of Bridge International, touched on the professional and the personal in equal measure.

Swierk, who runs a modular construction business, explained her personal philosophy of emphasizing service to others and how it fueled her success. “What catapulted me in the business world is waking up every day knowing that I will help someone,” she said.

Responding to a question about personal work habits, Sayavedra, an industrial property specialist, talked up business planning: “On a weekly and daily basis I choose five things I need to complete.” Her planning is scalable, so that weekly plans connect to monthly plans, and monthly to yearly.

The discussion shifted to the question of whether there was one organization the panelists would tell young women to join. Donat and Sayavedra agreed on the commercial group at their local association as a go-to for networking and education. “As a commercial practitioner, there isn’t as much education about services out there in general,” Donat said, encouraging attendees to look to NAR.

Swierk echoed that sentiment, stating the choice to join or not to join any professional organization is important to make with a strategic mindset. “We’re all stretched thin. [We should ask] how am I going to be able to contribute? Am I going to just be a member, or am I going to be able to move the needle?”

Sayavedra emphasized turning personal fear into a professional strength as something she would advise young women looking to get into commercial real estate to do. “Get out there, go exactly where your fear is, and push it. You will have fears. Go through them.”