2025 Women in CRE:
Jennifer Hower, Esq., Herman Katz LLP

What skill or quality do you believe is essential for success in your field today?

A skill that is essential to success in the commercial tax certiorari practice is the ability to listen and actually hear what others are saying. Active listening helps you to fully understand the issues at hand and leads to more thoughtful responses and better solutions. It also helps to create mutual trust, which makes others feel valued. It is a demonstration of genuine interest, which can help build important relationships. In short, active listening is not just about hearing words; it is about being fully engaged and responsive.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in commercial real estate?

The advice I would give to a woman considering a career in commercial real estate is to use the talents that come naturally to you. Women are innately problem-solvers. So, whether it is finding a suitable property for an investor, negotiating a sale price or a reduction in real estate taxes, women tend to be able to look at a problem from many different angles, and develop effective solutions. In addition, we are accustomed to multi-tasking, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines, all of which contribute to success in this industry.