2017 Women in Professional Services: Laurie Stanziale of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP

Name: Laurie Stanziale

Title: Partner

Company Name: Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP              

Years in real estate: 20

What real estate associations or organizations are you a member of? CREW New York, Women’s Builder Council

How have you navigated obstacles to achieve success in your career? I have always set interim goals for myself which seems to make challenges and obstacles easier to overcome. When first dealing with older more experienced lawyers, I worked and prepared twice as hard and most of the time was as well educated about the matter or case, if not more, than my adversary. This helped me to overcome inexperience early on my career. When faced with having to generate my own business, I set realistic goals that were not necessarily tied to actual dollars and number of clients but to meeting new people in the industry and making real connections, which eventually did lead to new business opportunities. I have also learned to “count to ten,” “take a deep breath” and avoid knee jerk reactions. The old adage that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar has worked well for me.

How do you play your strengths to your advantage in your career? Being in the largely male-dominated industry of construction, I have tried to make connections with other women in the industry who want to work with women. However, this also applies to men, in that there are many circumstances that the mindset and approach to problems that a woman may have differ from male counterparts which can work to a client’s advantage. I think that many men in the construction industry still doubt the knowledge and expertise that a woman can have and I like to show them right from the outset that I know what I am talking about and that they should listen up and consider me a formidable force. Being that I am comfortable speaking, I teach classes and take opportunities to participate in panels and other live events where I can use the interaction to my advantage.

What trends are you seeing so far this year? While there is still a lot of new construction in the pipeline, high-end luxury residential condominiums are certainly slowing. There is also a lot of repositioning of existing assets in part because banks are more comfortable lending on existing bricks. Improved amenities are trending as opposed to large layouts in both residential and commercial spaces. Popular amenities are outdoor space and other shared space, more upscale and diverse food options and smart technology.

What do you do for fun? I love to travel. Closer to home, cooking and running are things I do outside of work that I truly enjoy.