Four industry leaders shared their insights and advice on achieving success in the commercial real estate industry during a recent CREW KC panel discussion.
Suzie Aron, president, Aron Real Estate, LLC; Suzanne Dimmel, director, Cushman & Wakefield; Mariah Meyer, president and CEO, BRR Architecture, Inc.; and Tara Smiley, managing partner and founding partner, Drake Development, joined moderator Jill McCarthy, senior vice president, corporate attraction, Kansas City Area Development Council, for the CREW KC panel discussion.
Suzanne Dimmel, now an accomplished director with Cushman & Wakefield, left a successful 20-year career in banking to pursue her passion for commercial real estate. She spoke about the thrill of being able to select and even hire her own clients, saying "The fact that you get to get up in the morning and your heart pounds" is what makes the industry fun for her.
Tara Smiley worked her way up from a receptionist to her position today as the managing and founding partner of Drake Development. She emphasized the importance of being resilient.
"You learn from your failures. You build on your successes, and then when you have these experiences and you’re going through a recession or COVID, you learn how to deal with those challenges. You become much more flexible and adaptable, creating win-win solutions on how to move forward for the future," Smiley said.
President & CEO of BRR Architecture, Mariah Meyer, who followed in her father's footsteps as an architect, talked about her experience helping her company diversify its work and client base, resulting in company growth. She also stressed the importance of having the right people around the table when tackling problems.
"Never stop asking 'what if' and make sure you have the right people around the table," Meyer said.
Suzie Aron, president of Aron Real Estate, LLC, shared her unique journey into the industry. Aron grew up admiring the historic downtown buildings of Kansas City and worked in the garment business before transitioning to real estate - she even designed clothes for fast-food chains like McDonald's and Hardee's.
Her passion for the creative community led her to focus on the redevelopment of the Crossroads Arts District, a neighborhood with a 75% vacancy rate. Aron pulled together a group that determined what kind of neighborhood they wanted to establish, who their neighbors were going to be, and how they could support each other. This collaborative effort resulted in the successful revitalization of the neighborhood.
The panelists also emphasized the importance of mentorship and confidence in finding success in commercial real estate. Dimmel encouraged finding a mentor to bring you into the business.
"You need to get in at the right time with a strong team of people and a mentor that will bring you into the business along the way," Dimmel said.
Meyer shared her philosophy on leadership, "Promoting those around you and helping them find their success, helps you find greater success."
Smiley encouraged women to demand their place at the table, "Be confident in yourself. You know what you can bring to the table, and don't ever sit in the back of the room."
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Feature photo credit: Allison Bush.