2025 Women in CRE: Krystyna Blakeslee, Gibson Dunn

What has been the most rewarding project or deal you’ve worked on in your career, and why?

While there are many rewarding aspects within my career, the most rewarding would have to be the fact that the team has chosen to work with me, move firms with me, and have the trust in me to know I have their best interests at heart. I find it most rewarding to watch them each grow and flourish, even when they choose opportunities elsewhere. Without their support, I would not be where I am today.

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

Resilience. It’s the ability to adapt well to adversity, stress, tragedy and so on. This is the tool that will help navigate life’s ups and downs, both in a professional and personal sense. It will help one handle all the “nos” – and there are far more nos received than there are yeses. Resilience doesn’t mean to not have feelings, but it does mean not allowing those feelings to paralyze you and get in the way of a goal.

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

Build a circle of people you trust and truly support — and be just as committed to their success as they are to yours. This network will help you with your “resilience” and provide a safe space that will be there for you for the good times and the bad. You’ll have a sounding board for discussing lighthearted topics, such as a great new skincare find, and for talking through big career decisions, like whether to take a major promotion. You can’t navigate this industry — or life — alone. I’m fortunate to have a few key women friends in the industry that have been there for me in the most meaningful ways and it makes all the difference.

If you could change one thing about the CRE industry, what would it be and why?

I’d like to see the industry move away from some of the outdated practices that slow down transactions — for example, requiring original signature pages for every document. Embracing more modern processes would make deals faster, more efficient, and easier for all parties involved.