Emily Everett, a dynamic young professional at CBRE, recently clinched the SIOR's Young Professional Broker of the Year Award, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career in commercial real estate. Her journey from a sales role at Coca-Cola to making impactful strides in commercial real estate, such as her astonishing The Well deal, underscores the importance of persistence, networking, and leveraging prior experiences. Read on to learn more about Emily's CRE story.
As a YP what steps did you take to break into the industry?
I started off my career in sales at Coca-Cola, selling products to convenience stores, gas stations and small format grocery operators. Working in field sales really taught me persistence, the power of relationships and confidence. This experience led me to explore sales roles in the commercial real estate industry. Once I knew I wanted to pursue a career in commercial real estate, I really made it a priority to meet with anyone in the industry I had the opportunity to. Making connections and getting your name out there is super helpful when trying to break into the industry. I was able to use my previous experience and the connections I had made to land my role at CBRE.
As a young professional you’re hungry to achieve above and beyond your goals and targets however it’s important to remind yourself that experience comes with time.
Can you describe how you felt in the moment you realized you had won the award?
Shocked and ecstatic! It was definitely a “did they really just call my name?” moment. It was an amazing feeling, I am super proud and grateful to be the recipient. It's exciting as a young professional to be recognized early in your career.
Networking and relationships are really the backbone of commercial real estate. It’s an extremely valuable way to meet new people, create opportunities, and build a client network
Can you tell us about a deal you closed last year that you are particularly proud of and why?
The project and deals I am most proud of working on in the last year is The Well. My main focus was leasing the 70,000 square foot food market. The Well is such a dynamic site, it taught be me a lot about placemaking in a mixed-use development, creative deal structures and it introduced me to a wide variety of tenants. I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience working on a site of this scale.
How do you approach networking and building relationships in the industry as a young professional?
Networking and relationships are really the backbone of commercial real estate. It’s an extremely valuable way to meet new people, create opportunities, and build a client network. When I was first starting in the industry, I was lucky to have the opportunity to speak to a variety of people who gave me different perspectives and important advice. Now being a few years into my career, I make sure I dedicate time and effort into networking with up and coming young professionals, remembering how beneficial it was for myself.
How do you stay current on market trends and changes in the industry while also building your own personal brand?
I like to keep up with the daily and weekly news outlets that provide meaningful information on the latest retail news, and overall real estate information. Keeping up with colleagues in the industry is also a great way to stay in the know, a lot of meaningful information is revealed in a good conversation! Staying informed with current market trends directly benefits my personal brand by allowing me to add value in conversation, providing my clients with meaningful updates and knowledge, allowing them to make informed decisions.
Learn as much as you can about the different aspects and sectors of the industry and find the best fit for you.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a young professional in the commercial real estate industry and how have you overcome them?
Starting off in any industry as a young professional is challenging. What I have learned during the early stages of my career in commercial real estate is to find the balance between patience and ambition. As a young professional you’re hungry to achieve above and beyond your goals and targets however it’s important to remind yourself that experience comes with time. Working hard, keeping up to date with market knowledge and getting exposure to a variety of deals helps to overcome these challenges.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming brokers looking to break into commercial real estate?
My advice would be to build your network, work hard and put in the hours. Learn as much as you can about the different aspects and sectors of the industry and find the best fit for you. Ask questions and ask for help when needed. We are constantly learning and adapting so asking the right questions can help accelerate your knowledge base and your career.
Emily Everett's ascent to SIOR's Young Professional Broker of the Year highlights a journey of determination and success in the competitive world of commercial real estate. For more empowering stories and expert guidance on your own career path, we invite you to explore our blog.
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