2026 Women in Commercial Real Estate: Amanda Lagowitz, RTL

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

The Sky Zone deal at East River Plaza stands out as the most rewarding project of the past year. It required relocating Planet Fitness to the FDR level and working around Ashley Furniture’s planned departure, combining both spaces into a single 36,000 s/f footprint for Sky Zone. What made it especially meaningful was the bigger picture: we weren’t just filling vacant space, we were repositioning the center from a big-box retail hub into a true family and entertainment destination. I represented ownership throughout and seeing that vision come together made it the highlight of my year.

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

Persistence beats everything else. Never give up, always follow up, and keep searching for new spaces. Canvass and cold call landlords and tenants alike, and don’t waste energy worrying about competitors, just focus on getting better every single day. In an industry that relies on email and text, nothing replaces picking up the phone or standing in front of someone face-to-face. Eye-to-eye communication still closes deals that a screen never will.

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

This is still a male-dominated industry, so my advice is simple: find your edge and own it. Whether that’s client representation or landlord representation, always look for ways to stand out and create new opportunities to generate income. Standing out isn’t optional in this business, it’s what sets you apart.

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

AI will absolutely transform marketing and data analysis in this industry, but it will never replace brokers. There’s no substitute for physically canvassing the streets, AI can’t walk a block and notice a storefront has gone dark or a tenant is quietly preparing to close. At the same time, social media has become essential. Building a personal brand within your firm is no longer optional, it’s a competitive advantage. Relationships are harder to form in a digital-first world, so brokers who show up as engaged, visible professionals will succeed in the business.