Lyons of Rhodes Associates: Persistence/successful execution

Name: Jane Lyons Title: Managing Partner Company Name Rhodes Associates What year did you start your career in commercial real estate: 1987 Real Estate Associations/Organizations: ULI, PREA, CREFC, CREW NEW YORK, RELA, MBA, Woman's Builders Conference What recent project or transaction are you most proud of? Successfully merging two preeminent Real Estate Woman's organizations with my co-president Christine Chipurnoi into one powerhouse entity. The resulting combination achieved a truly relevant and meaningful purpose promoting the advancement of women in the commercial real estate sector covering all functional applications. What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why? Being selected to be co-president of the most prestigious woman's organization in commercial real estate. When you launched your own business what were some of the initial challenges and how did you overcome them? Being the only woman in the room that wasn't serving coffee. Persistence and successful execution eventually pays off in conferring credibility. What has been your experience with having a mentor or being a mentor yourself? No one gets anywhere alone or in a vacuum. The trick is to pick the right mentor and the right mentee. Please reflect on a recent achievement and/or milestone for your company: We have doubled in size with regards to our staffing and profitability. Who or what has been the strongest influence on your career and why? Being a keen student on those women who I admire in the real estate industry who truly were trail blazers in a field that was pretty much gender specific. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in the office in the morning? Organize my day in order of priority, review schedule and emails. What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you? Keep to the schedule and act on initiatives, don't ever pick up a piece of paper or an email without doing something about it. What is the best advice you have received and who was it from? Ben Franklin, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest" List 3 women that you would like to have drinks / dinner with and where would you go? Hilary Clinton, Ariana Huffington, Martha Stewart, One world trade center observatory What is your favorite quote? Don't tell me how rough the seas are just bring the ship in What did you want to be when you grew up? A mother.