2025 Women in CRE: Joanna Choinska, Foxy Management

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

Commercial real estate is a rewarding career — so go for it! It’s a relationship-driven industry, so build your network one genuine connection at a time. Don’t put all your energy into befriending the top leaders. Focus on cultivating real, mutual partnerships, as those relationships will take you further than any one-sided connection ever could. Also, be willing to extend a helping hand to industry newbies. Spend a little time patiently answering their questions and give them a bird’s-eye view of the situation and project. Your support might result in a valuable long-term connection.

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

My most interesting project is The Perennial in Forest Hills, NY, likely the most financially complex currently ongoing private/public project in New York City. Foxy is redeveloping and expanding the former Parkway Hospital into a 145-unit intergenerational affordable housing property. The Foxy team has successful navigated this immense real estate undertaking through years of changing ownerships, rezoning, design changes, shifting regulatory and tax incentive environment, structural revisions and a partial sale. Construction will begin in a few weeks.