2017 Women in Building Services: Christine Belson, KM Associates of New York, Inc.

Name: Christine Belson, MBA, SHRM-SCP

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Company Name: KM Associates of New York, Inc.

Years in real estate: 20

What real estate associations or organizations are you a member of? SHRM

How have you navigated obstacles to achieve success in your career?

In a mostly male dominated industry, I had to work really hard to be taken seriously and to be acknowledged for my abilities. What I found most important was to never let anyone hold me back from success. Not everyone can rise above things like age and gender discrimination, not everyone even acknowledges they are doing it. I learned to never settle for that and to push through to pursuing the role I believed I deserved even if that meant trying something new somewhere else. I believe that as long as you have received the education necessary for the role and the correct certifications, it becomes a matter of self-determination and confidence that gets you where you wish to be.

How do you play your strengths to your advantage in your career?

I think one of my strengths is that I am a people person. Part of my role includes human resource management, and in order to be effective in that arena you really have to like and understand people and their motivations. I believe that whether in that arena or just in the general arena of business administration and operations, having good people skills makes a big difference. With all of the technology that we surround ourselves with daily, sometimes I wonder if people have forgotten the importance of being able to communicate effectively in person, one-on-one.

What do you do for fun?

I love being out amongst nature. I love taking walks on the beach or through the trees somewhere and kayaking on the bay. When it’s too cold for any of that I really enjoying reading.