"Be fearless, work hard, work smart, don't try to be a man"

During the last 10 years of your career, which professional accomplishment, honor or achievement was most meaningful to you and why? I received the National Association of Women in Construction Member of the Year Award in 2005, validating my passion for helping women succeed in non-traditional roles in the real estate and construction industries. Which project, deal or transaction was the "game changer" in the advancement of your career during the last 10 years? Being engaged as the CPA by a major commercial developer who is changing the landscape of Brooklyn, New York. How do you contribute to your company and / or the industry? I am proud to be a mentor and role model for the women in the firm, leading by example and sharing my knowledge. I have made a conscious effort to show my female colleagues that they can fulfill their dreams and support other women as they make their way in the corporate world. What advice would you give to women just starting out in commercial real estate? Be fearless, work hard, work smart, network, and don't try to be a man. How do you manage the work/life balance? I work hard and I play hard. I relax as the captain of my speedboat, "Big Blue." Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? I had a male boss during the earlier years of my CPA career whose mantra was, "Don't blend in. Allow yourself to stand out." I've taken this advice to heart, even when I was less than comfortable in the spotlight. Today, I am undaunted by being a women whose work is largely in a male dominated field. How are you using social media to promote yourself, your products and / or your firm? Our firm has a presence on Twitter and LinkedIn, and I am active on LinkedIn as an individual. We are taking advantage of social media as an important marketing tool in today's communications environment. We've just launched an ad campaign featuring a custom QR code to bring visitors to our newly enhanced website. In the next month, we will introduce the Armao, Costa & Ricciardi blog, to which I will be a contributor. Where would you like to be 10 years from today? Since I'm writing this on April 17th, this year's tax day, I'd like to be in Tahiti in 10 years.