News
PEEK AT THE PAST
October 31, 2011
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| Wilmer Hale partner Katharine Bachman (right), a leader of the law firm's real estate practice, took us back to ?78, when she knocked on the law firm's door looking for a job. She was told,?We don't have many women here, but we do have public service.? That interested her and got her inside. Eventually, she became fascinated by CRE transactions and says, even after 33 years, ?Every day is different.? She told about 200 women at a NAIOP lunch earlier this month that sometimes a perceivedweakness can become a strength. Early on, she wasn't able to join her male colleagues? basketball games, so she became active in industry groups, gleaning business contacts galore. BTW ... later, she learned to play golf. |
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| In discussing mentoring, Partners Health Care?s Kathryn West, responsible for a 16M SF portfolio, says finding the right mentor can be pure luck. Starting out, most of her mentors were men. ?That's how the world worked, but no more.? Now, women can carve their own path, and more easily find mentors. She advises being adaptable; willing to do things differently. At one point, she temporarily filled in at a job she wanted to be permanent. The corporate culture led her to bridle her aggressive instincts and step back to figure out the best route to navigate. It worked, andshe got the job. |
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| The Davis Cos? Cappy Daume, all 5 feet of her, is managing director of asset management. Previously, she directed capital markets for the former Spaulding & Slye (now JLL) when her team closed $7B in sales. Early on, in ?89, she says there were only five women in top CRE jobs in Boston. She got her start by offering to work six months for free but management paid her anyway. She says she learned to carefully pick her male mentors and find women to learn from outside the firm. As for work/life balance, she hopes to have time for herself in the sunset years. Now, it's all job and family. |
