Sharon Ann Miller, Hillcrest Finance, LLC; Lauren Cahill, Grubb Properties; Peggy DaSilva, PIMCO, WX’s 2024 Woman of the Year;
Mimi Raygorodetsky, LANGAN; Lauren Holden, ShopCore Properties; Amy Boyle, Prospect Ridge;
Pamela West, Nuveen; Katherine Kelman, LMXD; and Jennifer Schwartzman, immediate past-president of WX.
Manhattan, NY WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate (WX) hosted its Annual 2024 Woman of the Year Gala on Thursday, October 10th at The Plaza. The sold-out gala honored Peggy DaSilva, head of asset management, U.S., for PIMCO Prime Real Estate, who brings four decades of leadership and advocacy to the commercial real estate industry. This year’s event was the largest event to date with nearly 700 guests in attendance as well as a record-breaking year in terms of revenue and number of sponsorship commitments.
DaSilva has been at the forefront of asset management in the U.S., actively managing PIMCO Prime Real Estate’s U.S. portfolio with a keen focus on equity investments. Her professional journey has taken her from managing director roles at Canyon Partners Real Estate and CBRE Global Investors to positions at The Rockefeller Group, Deutsche Bank USA, Bankers Trust Company, Citicorp Securities, and Chemical Bank, including a tenure in their Tokyo office. DaSilva holds an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and an MBA in finance from Columbia Business School. These credentials underpin her strategic and analytical approach to real estate investment and asset management.
Throughout her career, DaSilva has advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the real estate sector. She has mentored emerging professionals and championed initiatives to create opportunities for underrepresented groups, enriching the industry with diverse perspectives and expertise. DaSilva’s leadership extends beyond her professional achievements, reflecting a deep commitment to ethical practices, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Susan Swanzey, 2014’s WX Woman of the Year, introduced the honoree saying, “I believe [Peggy] has been blessed with exceptional personality traits combined with an intellectual curiosity and a boundless work ethic that have been effectively woven into her career and family life,” said Swanzey. “In fact, I believe, and I know her family agrees, that she is a better wife and mother, because of her intense and fulfilling career. How does she demonstrate consistent dedication to both her career and her family? She has no extra bandwidth but somehow makes it work. A key resource for Peggy has been this community of women, a support system going through shared life experiences as well as shared career wins and losses. WX has given all of us so much, and for this we are all grateful. And I am most grateful to have her as a dear friend.”
DaSilva said, “I always tell my daughters, “you don’t get anything you don’t ask for.” But you need strong relationships to make these asks, and real estate is a profession that relies heavily on relationships. Whether we are incorporating data and market comps in our decision making, or figuring out how to use AI in our analyses, our work really comes down to the people involved in the deal. How credible is that borrower? How reliable is that joint venture partner? Do I want to be in business with a particular group for the duration of the real estate investment?
Real estate is a team sport. And in a world where we are glued to our iPhones, the opportunities to stay connected — truly, genuinely connected — are limitless. Especially to help and to mentor other women.”
The evening concluded with a standing ovation.
Proceeds from the fundraising event support WX’s Mission, as well as the scholars and mentoring programs which aid talented young women in their pursuit of careers in the real estate industry.