4D — October 22 - November 18, 2021 — Women in Business — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
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Women in Business
Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today? I majored in music in col- lege and realized I wanted a real job that I could actually make money at. The music industry is ex- tremely hard to break into and I had realistic expec- tations. My dad is a CPA
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in: I started my career in public accounting at With- um directly out of college in January 2006. In 2010, I moved to the non-profit sector but missed the va- riety and flexibility public accounting offered so I re- turned to Withum in 2014 and became involved in the real estate niche shortly after my return. What is your current position? I am currently a manager in our outsourced accounting group, OASyS. I am also the Team Leader for Advisory within the Real Estate niche. How do you manage the work/life balance? I find that the best way to maintain a balance is to set and communicate clear boundaries. I try my best to set schedules for both work and personal activities and stick to them as much as possible. I am open and up front when setting expectations for projects so that everyone involved is on the same page. What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today? The biggest challenge for me has been recognizing that there are multiple paths to success and that success looks different for everyone. As I have progressed in my career, I have had to focus on achieving my professional goals while not sacrificing my personal ones. This has meant that my path has not always mir- rored those of my colleagues but, by following what was right for me, I believe I have found myself not only in the right place but also at the right time. If you are the primary caregiver to your children what obstacle and challenges do you meet on a day to day basis? The biggest challenge for me is to be present for whatever I am currently doing. There are always so many factors competing for my attention that it can be difficult to give undivided attention to any one thing. MAREJ Rebecca Makely Real Estate Advisory Team Leader Withum Years with company/firm: 12 Years in field: 16 Years in real estate industry: 6 years in Withum’s real estate niche CRE organizations/affiliations: Corenet NJ
Ashley Kettler Tax Senior Manager Withum Years with company/firm: 3 Years in field: 11 Years in real estate industry: 11 CRE organizations/affiliations: NAREIT
so I figured it would be a good choice for me too. It has actually turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I love the career field I chose and find my career fulfilling. I think it’s a perfect fit for me with the personality that I have and goals I wanted to achieve in life. What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today? It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you own it. During my staff 1 year at EY, a manager told me what we do is all on paper, remember you aren’t a doctor. If you make a mistake no one dies. Obviously no one wants to make mistakes or is intentionally careless, but sometimes it happens and you don’t need to beat yourself up over it or dwell on it for the rest of your life. Clients are much more understanding if you tell the truth and fix it rather than try to cover it up or pretend it didn’t happen. It is a terrible feeling and an awkward conversation to have, but it gets easier over time. Everyone makes mistakes at some point. Do you feel being a woman is an advantage, disadvantage or no advantage in today’s business world? Why? Why not? Neither an advantage nor disadvantage. I never felt passed over or discriminated against as a woman. I also don’t think I was ever promoted for someone to “check a box”. I think people need to stop focusing so much on what they perceive as differences because then it just makes it into an issue that doesn’t exist. If you think you can’t measure up to your male colleagues then you never will. Men and women are equally capable at being good or bad at something. Speak up and get your voice heard. When people see you are intelligent and good at what you do they will have respect for you regardless of your gender. MAREJ
Laura Riso Audit Senior Manager Withum Years with company/firm: 12 Years in field: 12 Years in real estate industry: 8 CRE organizations/affiliations: CREW NJ, Treasurer
Sara Palovick Tax Senior Manager Withum Years with company/firm: 3 Years in field: 13 Years in real estate industry: 13 CRE organizations/affiliations: ICSC
Alicia Mynarska Senior Manager Withum Years with company/firm: 17
What outside activities do you enjoy during you free time? (10 after merging) Years in field: 17 Years in real estate industry: 17 CRE organizations/affiliations: CREWNew York While I am passionate about contributing to the success of our firm and helping our clients grow and prosper, I value interconnecting work with free time after work. I enjoy attending various professional events and networking. I also like to spend my free time exploring wellness activities that nourish my mind, body, and spirit. Additionally, I love traveling and I am a black belt in martial arts. These activities have led to creating a positive work environment, fostering teamwork, building resil- ience, bringing innovation, and being a better leader. My curiosity in life has led me to be surrounded by dynamic and loving communities. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of commercial real estate or your allied field? To advance a career, a young professional could consider getting involved in a professional or com- munity-based organization or charity. I have served on boards and committees of several professional organizations and recently rejoined CREW (Com - mercial Real Estate Women). While giving back to communities and supporting our profession is an important part of Withum’s culture, it is also an excellent way to develop and grow leadership skills, expand knowledge and network. MAREJ
What is your current position? I am currently a senior manager at Withum and a member of the firm’s real estate niche. The majority of my clients, for whom I perform audit and attest services, are in the real estate industry. I am also currently the Treasurer of CREW NJ. What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today? An ongoing challenge for me is balancing work and motherhood. Public accounting is a demanding field and I had to make some adjustments to my work schedule in order to have more time to spend with my family. My daughters are my number one priority and I am lucky enough to work for a firm that allows me flexibility without having to sacrifice my career. Tell us a little about your family: I have been married to my husband, John, for almost 7 years and we have two wonderful daughters, Emily (age 4) and Adriana (age 2), and a dog named Cooper. Emily and Adriana are both kind, smart, beautiful, funny little girls and are the reason I work hard every day. My free time is spent enjoying quality time with my family every chance I get. MAREJ
Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in: When I started out of college the first job I was put on was a real estate client that I still work on to this day. I knew little about the industry, but quickly found that it was where I wanted to spend my career. With the help of mentors and advocates, I was able direct my focus almost 100% in the real estate space which allows me to spend every day doing something I love. Why did you choose the field/profession you are in today? I chose tax because it was the area of accounting that my mother worked in, and I was familiar with it I got lucky that I loved it. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career? So many people at different times. Early mentors that helped me find my way in what I wanted to do and made sure it happened. Partners that took chances onme and allowedme to fail safely. Each had influence at different times that shaped my career. Do you feel being a woman is an advantage, disadvantage or no advantage in today’s busi- ness world? Why? Why not? I don’t feel that there is an advantage or disadvantage in being a woman. I don’t think there is anything I can’t do because of my gender. Sometimes we are held back by limiting thoughts like that, and if someone feels I shouldn’t be doing something or where I am, that is their problem and not mine. MAREJ
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