2026 Women in Commercial Real Estate: Christine Coletta, Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP

What leadership lesson has made the greatest impact on your career?

The biggest leadership lesson I’ve learned is that as your career progresses, your job changes. Early on, success was about producing great work myself. As a partner, success is increasingly about helping my colleagues and associates do their best work. That shift isn’t always easy. Lawyers are trained to solve problems, catch every issue, and be the person with the answer. I’ve had to learn that sometimes the better use of my time is slowing down long enough to explain something or let someone else take the lead, even if I could do it faster myself.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women entering commercial real estate?

Focus less on sounding smart and more on being prepared. Early in my career, I assumed everyone else around the table knew more than I did. Eventually, I realized that even the most experienced people are still learning. The difference is that they’re comfortable asking questions, doing the homework, and making decisions without pretending they know everything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.