Boston Power Women: 5 Questions With Sue Hawkes

This limited series profiles Power Women who have helped shape Greater Boston’s cities, neighborhoods, businesses and lifestyles. These women will be honored at Bisnow's Boston Power Women event on Dec. 4.

The Collaborative Cos. Managing Director Sue Hawkes is a fixture in Boston’s development scene and a national voice in construction. Before joining TCC in 1997, she was a senior vice president at The Codman Co. for 13 years. She served on the National Association of Home Builders Executive Committee, as chairman of the New England Builders Conference and as trustee of both the Institute of Residential Marketing Council and the National Sales and Marketing Council, the latter of which she has chaired.

Hawkes also consults throughout the country on a variety of developments, including urban and suburban mixed-use projects. 

Bisnow: How do you describe your job to people who are not in the industry?  

Hawkes: TCC provides analytical direction for product/design and market positioning for developers of multifamily communities, both for rent and for sale. We then turnkey the branding and marketing program through to disposition — for both sales and rental projects. As founder and managing director of the company, I am responsible for the ultimate management of all our processes, maintaining our high standards and continually looking for the best projects we can align ourselves with.

My job is to be responsible for business development, company financials in conjunction with NRT, the national firm that owns TCC, employee development, project management and ultimate supervision of all our projects — as well as the company cheerleader! Our culture is very important to our success. My goal is to keep everyone happy and committed to their role at TCC.

Bisnow: What is the biggest business problem you have faced and how did you solve it? 

Hawkes: The biggest problem we face is dealing with a market downturn and managing the expectations of our clients. We solve it by staying ahead of it. We anticipate the concern, proactively suggest a strategy and pull out all the stops to assure that it happens. I insist that our senior management continually supports our team. They need to know we have their backs with our clients, putting them first while balancing the needs of your clients is challenging, but doable. Honest, frank discussions, proactive plans and constant availability assures everyone that we are supporting them. That is the best way to success.

Bisnow: What is one thing you think companies can do to address wage and gender inequality?  

Hawkes: Interestingly, our company is 95% female employees. Out of 45 employees, we have three men. My goal is to continually hire and train the best person for the job, irrespective of gender. Ironically, we find that women tend to fit that role better than most men who have applied. Companies need to be gender blind, test applicants, hire the best and then pay them what they are worth.

Bisnow: What piece of advice do you give others entering the industry? 

Hawkes: Be persistent, follow the industry leaders, get as much education as you can within the industry and challenge yourself. Every industry rewards ambition, focus and hard work. No successful person works 8 to 5. You need to be able to give much more of yourself to assure success, especially for a woman!

Bisnow: What do you do to unwind when you’re not working? 

Hawkes: Unfortunately, not enough! I enjoy visiting my children and grandchildren, traveling when I can and going to Maine in the summer.

Meet The Collaborative Cos. Managing Director Sue Hawkes at Bisnow's Boston Power Women event Dec. 4 at the Westin Copley Place.