New York Power Women 2018: Madelyne Kirch, President, Sun & Moon Marketing Communications

Bisnow: What keeps you in commercial real estate and what makes you want to come to work each day?

Madelyne Kirch: 
I love real estate and often say, “it’s always about the real estate.” Almost all of our important decisions — personal as well as professional — include a real estate aspect. There’s also always something to learn. I’ve been in and around the business for my entire career, and yet virtually every day brings something new, another insight, another lens through which to view the world. Some of the most fascinating projects I’ve worked on are for the same building in the hands of different owners. The vision of different entities with distinct investment objectives results in very different marketing approaches. The same can be said for a particular building at another moment in time. And now we’re branding new ways of thinking about office space in multiple cities. The world turns and buildings and owners need to adapt to capitalize on their investments. Understanding the macro and micro forces at work and synthesizing those with messaging that resonates keeps you on your toes. We’re also working on economic development initiatives, looking at branding districts and cities, which I’m particularly passionate about given my public administration and urban planning studies. So, it’s always exciting.

Bisnow: Have you had mentors over your career? Who are they and what influence did they have?

Kirch: I’ve been very fortunate to have had two extraordinary mentors, both male. The first was at Rockefeller Center where I learned how to work through difficult political situations and to have confidence in my abilities. The second was a real estate marketing legend, Art Lohman, who took me under his wing and generously shared his knowledge, wisdom and creative genius in both real estate and marketing. I think of Sun & Moon as Art’s third child. 


Bisnow: What's the one thing you would change about the industry and why?

Kirch: We’re making progress, but still have a long way to go on gender equality, particularly on the development front. I’m a founding member of the Women’s Development Collaborative, a national organization working toward that.

Register now to attend Bisnow's New York Power Women event July 12.