According to CREW Network’s 2020 Benchmark Study Report, women make up just under 37 percent of the commercial real estate industry. This number has not changed much over the past 15 years. While the number of young women joining the industry is growing, commercial real estate still has a ways to go in terms of inclusion and diversity.

CREW, or Commercial Real Estate Women, is a network of professionals dedicated to transforming the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally. With over 12,000 members worldwide, CREW Network connects through business networking, leadership development, industry research and career outreach.

Mary Jo Kelly, Vice President of Kraus-Anderson’s Financial Services Group, has built her career in commercial real estate at KA since 1976. She worked her way up from an administration role and has become a leader in the industry, serving as the 2016 president of CREW’s Minnesota chapter.

Claire Roberts, Vice President at Colliers International, is also heavily involved with MNCREW, serving as the 2014 president, a former CREW Network global board member, and will serve as the 2022 chair of the CREW Network Foundation.

Mary Jo and Claire discuss how they have paved such successful careers in a male-dominated industry, how CREW has been a resource, and the future of commercial real estate.