2026 Women in Commercial Real Estate: Ashley McClary, Hanna Commercial Real Estate - Ithaca

What was the most rewarding project or deal you’ve worked on in the past 12 months, and why? 

Landing The Shops at Ithaca Mall as my first commercial listing was the most rewarding work of my year. It was vacant with no broker assigned, so I built a leasing strategy, presented it to ownership, and won the assignment on merit. It’s 622,000 s/f of GLA, and I’m now setting anchor mix, co-tenancy, and repositioning strategy from the ground up. Winning a listing that size on my own, with no commercial track record yet, is the deal I’m most proud of.

What leadership lesson has made the greatest impact on your career?

Early in my career, a $1.2 million residential sale fell apart at the last minute. It hit hard. I’d put months into it and felt like I’d failed. What got me through were mentors who’d been there before and reminded me this is normal in this business. They taught me deals will come and go, and your worth isn’t tied to any single one. Now, when something falls through, I let myself feel it, then I move on to the next lead. That resilience is the leadership lesson I carry with me every day.

What trend or change in commercial real estate do you believe will have the biggest impact over the next five years?

I think AI is going to reshape commercial real estate at every level, not just marketing decks and listing photos. Site selection, demographic analysis, lease comps, even matching the right tenant to the right space will move faster and get sharper with these tools. Brokers who learn to use them well will outwork brokers who don’t. But the deals themselves still get closed on relationships and trust, not algorithms. The agents who thrive over the next five years will be the ones who let AI handle the grunt work and spend the time they save actually talking to people.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women entering commercial real estate?

Ask more questions than you think you’re allowed to. When I took on my first commercial listing, a regional mall, I didn’t know every term yet, so I asked, and nobody held it against me. What held me back more was staying quiet to look competent. Build real relationships with people who’ve been doing this longer, not just for advice but for someone to call when a deal falls through, because it will. This business rewards persistence more than perfection. Take up space in the room, even when you’re the only woman in it.