Has social networking had an impact on your success?

Lauren Davidson is a director at Grubb & Ellis,. Her responsibilities include: Corporate tenant representation and business development across service lines. Davidson is affiliated with CoreNet; REBNY; Penn Women in Real Estate; chair of the Real Estate Club, Penn Club of New York; UJA Federation of New York Real Estate Committee YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network;Safe Space and is chair of the Young Alumni Committee, Penn Club of New York. What impact has social networking had on your success? The strong network of personal and professional relationships I have built is integral to my success. By nature, commercial real estate is an entrepreneurial business and successful business development is dependent on personal references, not just qualifications. As a business-to-business professional service, our industry's community of decision-makers is also relatively small and interconnected, which enabled me to develop an effective personal network relatively quickly. I am also mindful that making connections is not the hard part -- maintaining them through meaningful participation in related activities is more critical. I am involved in various non-profits, but I focus the majority of my time on serving the Penn Club of New York. As a member of the board of directors, I plan events ranging from wine tastings to professional panel discussions that bring individuals together and facilitate introductions among Club members. The connections I have made at the Penn Club, in a social environment, have translated into multiple business opportunities for many individuals at the Club, as well as for me and Grubb & Ellis. Lauren Davidson is a director at Grubb & Ellis, New York, N.Y.