Do You Know Colliers International's New COO for the NY/Tri-State Region?
She’s New Jersey’s highest-ranking female commercial real estate executive, and now she’s the new COO of Colliers International's New York/Tri-State area, bringing 21 years of expertise. Here are a few things you didn’t know about Kimberly Brennan:
Plans for the new position: Take some time to assess the landscape. Once I determine the growth areas and have a general idea of some areas of improvement, I will develop a strategic plan.
Best advice she’s ever heard: Know what you are not. Concentrate on what you are good at and where you can be effective. Build a good team to develop and implement in areas that are not your core strength.
Best advice she has to give: Find a mentor. Whether it is a male or a female, you need someone to guide you through your career. It may be several mentors for the different stages of your growth. Most of the time we know how to perform a job function, but need guidance on the implementation and political landscape. Without that piece of the puzzle, you are dead in the water.
When she knew this is what she wanted to do with her life: Even as a little girl, I envisioned myself in a corner office with a big job, at least that was after I realized that I was too tall to be a movie star. I stumbled into real estate by accident. It took me a little time to find the right fit, but once I started to manage a small amount of brokers at ESG in the '90s, I was hooked.
Proudest business accomplishment besides becoming COO of Colliers International: Being named one of the 50 best women in business by NJ Biz. I was absolutely thrilled to be recognized and that was a huge accomplishment for me.
First job: Babysitting in the neighborhood. After that I was a waitress as I worked my way through college.
Role model: Richard Branson of the Virgin Group. He has great competitive spirit and a good formula for success. He just "gets it." One of my favorite quotes by him is: "To be successful, you have to hit the ground running, and if you have a good team around you and more than your fair share of a little luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can't guarantee it just by following someone else's formula." People don't realize that luck plays a part in everything.
Guilty pleasure: Watching smutty reality TV. It’s hysterical.
Childhood career aspirations: A waitress, then a movie star.
If she could only have one food every day for the rest of her life it would be: Candy...I would skip dinner for candy. The more sugar the better - candy corn, jelly beans, caramels. Ask anyone that knows me. I always have candy on me. It keeps me awake.
Favorite TV Show: The Blacklist. James Spader is unbelievable in this show, and it is such a compelling series. It keeps you guessing.
Favorite hobby: I don't have time for hobbies, with two kids and a career, but I do enjoy reading a good book. Maybe one day I will be able to play tennis regularly again.
Cutest thing her kids have said to her lately: My boys are 8 and 10 so it's funny to hear their impression of things. When I told them about my new position at Colliers they said, "Mom, you do nothing at work but read emails and talk to people." I told them that those emails will be paying for their college education one day.
