2025 Ones To Watch - Industry Leaders: Leah Blackman, CM&B

“Leah Blackman is an indispensable leader within CREW New York, where she currently serves on our board of directors as the programs liaison. In this pivotal role, Leah curates and delivers outstanding programming that showcases timely, impactful industry topics and features some of the most dynamic talent in New York commercial real estate. Her thoughtful approach and unwavering commitment to excellence ensure that every event not only informs but also inspires. Through her work, Leah consistently advances our mission to connect, support, and empower women across the commercial real estate industry.” - Julie Reimann, Key Account Manager National Account Program, Kuehne + Nagel and 2025 CREW NY President. 

Sharing knowledge and expertise:

Whether it’s crafting a thoughtful LinkedIn post, hosting an internal training session, sharing articles, or hosting a client lunch & learn, I am always happy to share my expertise with others. It’s easy to forget our own depth of experience. What might seem obvious to one could be novel to others. I’ll leave you with one piece of advice right now: when sharing what you know, don’t be afraid of giving away your secret sauce. Your secret sauce is your 20 years of experience.

Best advice for new leaders:

 Know when to listen and when to speak up. Take risks. Build your personal board of advisors.

Giving Back:

Throughout my 20+ year career in NYC, I’ve been committed to fostering an inclusive environment and opportunities for women to advance in the workplace. I’ve been a part of many organizations, but the one I’ve found most impactful is CREW New York. As a board member for the last 3 years, I am constantly amazed by the meaningful long term relationships and new business opportunities I’ve cultivated through CREW New York, both for myself and for others.

Best books, podcasts, or apps for aspiring leaders:

My two business bibles are Unreasonable Hospitality and Never Split the Difference.

Who was/is your role model and/or leadership mentor?

My mom. She taught me the value of reliability, hard work, and grit..