SoCal Power Women: 5 Questions With Rising Realty Partners' Kayce Hawk
This limited series profiles SoCal Power Women who have helped shape cities, neighborhoods, businesses and lifestyles in Los Angeles and Orange counties. These women will be honored at Bisnow's SoCal Power Women event Dec. 13.
Kayce Hawk serves as senior vice president at Rising Realty Partners. She manages day-to-day operations and strategic planning of Rising’s property management assignments and teams, and she has been an integral part of the company's repositioning and sale of PacMutual, a 460K SF office campus in downtown Los Angeles.
How do you describe your job to people who are not in the industry?
I describe my job as the perfect combination of analytics and social. Each day is different, and there is always something to tackle you did not expect. I also often describe it as being similar to a personal investment adviser; we are the boots on the ground constantly reconciling our investors' goals with tenant needs and optimal operation of the asset. Doing this well requires experience, creativity and excellent communication skills.
What is the biggest business problem you have faced and how did you solve it?
The most consistent challenge I face is hiring qualified team members that fit within our company culture. Over the past two years, I have strategically planned for succession and have been successful at filling entry-level and assistant manager positions with candidates that are promotable to property managers as our portfolio grows. This helps to continue the cultivation of our culture as we grow but also drastically increases employee retention and engagement, as each team member has a clear path for growth.
What is one thing you think companies can do to address wage and gender inequality?
It is important to pay for the position and hire the best candidate. I have had the honor of hiring a diverse group of management professionals and conscientiously evaluate the value of the position against a person's experience level to determine wage. A person's wage should not be dependent on what they made previously. It should be based on what they bring to the table and what that position pays. We need to get out of the mindset of valuing team members based on previous wage and instead value the position. If you are hiring or promoting them, they deserve to make the fair market wage, end of story.
What piece of advice do you give others entering the industry?
Step 1, get in the door. Seek out an entry-level position or internship. Once you are in, if you want to be successful, learn as much about each and every aspect of building operations and proactively seek out training and mentorship on higher-level tasks. Get involved in BOMA, IREM and other networking opportunities. Serve on committees and get to know colleagues in positions you are looking to grow into. It is my experience that we all want to see others succeed, and I for one am willing to offer any type of advice or provide information without reservation.
What do you do to unwind when you’re not working?
I own a horse and keep her in the High Desert, that way I can get out of the city for large chunks of time a couple days a week. I also am a bit of an Orangetheory Fitness addict and get [four to five] workouts in a week. Aside from that, I practice daily meditation and try to take some time to read each day.
Meet Rising Realty Partners Senior Vice President Kayce Hawk at Bisnow's SoCal Power Women event Dec. 13 at the LA Grand Hotel Downtown.
