The power of connection in an industry of competition
After graduating college at the tail-end of the Great Recession, work was hard to come by. Like most of my peers at that time, I had to accept the harsh reality that securing a job within my preferred field of interest would now be more complex than ever before, and my competition was much fiercer. Rather than biding my time waiting for the perfect job to land in my lap, I knew I had to work, so I veered far from my commercial real estate destination and accepted a position with a startup educational software company.
At twenty-four, I had been in this role for about a year, working long hours with little energy for much else. My alma mater, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, invited me to a networking event hosted by their Alumni Association. My former classmate and roommate at the time had no interest in trekking across town to accompany me, and to say I was reluctant to attend alone would be an understatement. Nevertheless, I mustered the energy; I showed up, chose to be a present, active participant, and it paid off. One of the many people I met that evening was a well-known broker at a prominent commercial real estate company whose Brokerage Assistant was coincidentally leaving their team. They needed a replacement, and they needed one quickly. Without hesitation, I jumped at the opportunity, and shortly after that, I hit the ground running on what would become my now ten-year journey in commercial real estate.
In the beginning, many industry professionals told me how rare and challenging it would be for me to transition from an assistant role to that of a broker. Even though I knew my determination was more than enough to get me there, the slightest doubts from those around me added extra incentive and motivation. Two short years later, I became a licensed broker—proving, to myself, first and foremost, that having a greater purpose and not placing limitations on my personal or professional growth would open many doors to success.
To this day, I firmly believe that these doors would not have opened for me without making that connection at an event I very nearly missed. As years went by, the power of networking continued to prove its strength. More specifically, the power of simply showing up. From meetings with top brokers, women, and men in various specialty areas, I quickly learned and latched onto the notion that connection is everything in this business. Without it, without the ability to call upon allies and individuals who have been in your shoes, you can find yourself in an isolating and stagnant position. Make time for that coffee meeting, take that person to lunch, and continue to insert and assert yourself in conversations with those groups. You have nothing to lose and anything and everything to gain.
Connection is the most powerful tool you can possess in this industry, and with connection comes mentorship. Everyone needs someone to aspire to, someone to look to for guidance and support along the journey, and if you are lucky enough to find more than one, you are lucky enough. The competition is fierce, but recognizing your allies and homing in on their advice will propel you forward and prepare you to be that mentor for the next generation. I am fortunate to have gained a trusted circle of mentors throughout my career, and I place high importance on fostering those relationships. Earlier this year, I established a Women’s Brokerage Network for Colliers’ Greater Los Angeles region, intending to provide those same opportunities and a sense of camaraderie and support for other women in my industry.
Kristen Bowman is first vice president of Colliers Greater Los Angeles. Learn more at colliers.com.
