2016 Women in Real Estate: Meredith Berman Lovejoy

Name: Meredith Berman Lovejoy

Title: Global Director of Marketing

Company Name: Shen Milsom & Wilke             

Email: [email protected]

Years in real estate: 20

Telephone: 212.725.6800

Twitter: @meredithlovejoy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithlovejoy

How did you get your start in real estate?

I knew I wanted to do marketing in a creative environment. My first job in this industry was as a marketing coordinator at HOK.

What real estate associations or organizations are you a member of?

SMPS, CREW, NY Building Congress.

What recent project or transaction are you most proud of?

My career goal is to partner with and grow my company through the development of corporate & business strategies; the identification of business opportunities within markets defined by those strategies; and by developing the brand to support that growth. I believe that a strong brand is the basis of communicating the who, what and how of the company.

At SM&W, we are in the midst of celebrating the firm’s 30th anniversary year. We are simultaneously working through a leadership transition and as such, elements of our firm’s brand are in flux. On May 11, 2016, SM&W hosted an anniversary celebration at Carnegie Hall. 180 people came together to celebrate the firm’s rich history and toast to its future. Five guests of honor representing long-term friends and impressive clients spoke about our services and people. Our brand was on display that evening and it sparkled.

What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why?

I have received the SMPS NY Principal of the Year award. This means a lot to me as it is a nomination & selection process by my industry peers. Being honored by ones’ peers is a tremendous privilege.

What have been some of the benefits of being a mentor or having a mentor?

I enjoy mentoring those I work with; it gives me great satisfaction to help others grow professionally and achieve their goals. There are two people whom I would call my mentors and though I have not worked with either of them in over a decade, the lessons they taught and the way their input helped me to improve myself, achieve my goals, and advance my career are invaluable.

What time management strategies do you find to be the most effective for you?

I use Outlook; my reminder app on my phone; and I make prioritized lists each day of the things I have to get done. I still get overwhelmed and stuff does not all get completed as efficiently as I’d like, but these are my strategies and they mostly work for me.

What is the best advice you have received and who was it from?

Always say thank you. Be nice to everybody no matter what their position. Be polite no matter what. I’d credit my parents with raising me well.  Plus, some of my best mentors and heroes in the industry have led by example. At HOK in the mid 1990’s, Chris Strom, the then Director of Marketing and my then boss, always said “thank you for your work” at the close of each business  day. I appreciated that. Susan Murphy of Murphy Motivation teaches good manners are the basis of good business. To me it’s a no brainer, but whenever I experience rude or ungracious behavior by colleagues, I am reminded that to be polite is great advice.