Luskoff of First Nationwide: Leave emotions out of business

Name: Allison Luskoff Title: Senior Vice President and Senior Underwriting Counsel Company: First Nationwide Title Agency What year did you start your career in commercial real estate: 1997 (Commercial Real Estate Paralegal Real Estate Associations/Organizations: New York State Land Title Association - Vice Chair of the Law Committee. What recent project or transaction are you most proud of? I have the privilege of working on the most fascinating transactions in NY, as well as nationally and internationally. This privilege requires the parties and deal specifics to remain anonymous, however the most complex project I worked on was when my third grade son ran for student counsel. I always tell colleagues to leave emotion out of the business decisions, do your due diligence, assess your risk, mitigate your risk and then make a decision and don't look back. Third graders are a tough audience. What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why? Mother's Day. My sons Mason and Jourdan are my greatest honor and achievement. To be recognized by them for being their mom is priceless. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? My mother, who obtained three masters degrees while raising two daughters on her own. If you work hard you can attain anything. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in the office in the morning? I say good morning to everyone, its tough to connect with everyone throughout the day but it's important to ask people how their weekend/evening was and to mean it. What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you? To have a great team that keeps you efficient. I am lucky, our company recognizes the need for depth of knowledge and we arm ourselves with the team approach. There is a senior attorney, mid-level attorney/title officer and paralegal on every commercial transaction. The team approach helps me manage my time. What is the best advice you have received and who was it from? Michael J. Berey, Esq., my mentor told me to work hard, assess your risk, make an informed decision and don't look back. List 3 women that you would like to have drinks / dinner with and where would you go? Golda Meir (Fourth Prime Minister of Israel), Benazir Bhutto (11th Prime Minister of Pakistan) and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (Nelson Mandela's wife, South African activist and politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee). I'd like to go to each of their homes for coffee to hear about history as they lived it, not as it was written and to discuss why the world has so much hatred in it and how we can effect change. What is your favorite quote? "I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much." Mother Teresa What did you want to be when you grew up? A talk show host.