Tsang receives "2013 Woman of the Year" from WX

Name: Marjorie Tsang Title: NA Company Name: currently unaffiliated; previously with the New York State Common Retirement Fund in legal roles, then director of real estate investments, interim chief investment officer, director of strategic research and solutions Year Founded: NA Years in Commercial Real Estate: 28 In the last 12 months, which project, transaction, honor or accomplishment are you most proud of and why? Receiving the "2013 Woman of the Year" recognition from WX was the highlight that tied the threads of my career together. As a lawyer, real estate portfolio manager and interim chief investment officer at the NYS Common Retirement Fund, I was able to direct significant institutional capital to invest in joint ventures, geographic markets, niche property types, specific assets and new managers before the market caught on. I've held the mission of WX dearly and have been privileged to have served on the WX board and the Scholarship Committee, and now on the board of the WX Charitable Fund. What were your biggest fears when you started out in your profession? I was always afraid I'd screw up. But my colleagues were supportive and driven to produce excellent product for our clients. In that environment, I learned to tackle complicated transactions, research what was known, find solutions to the unknown and communicate so that all parties worked as collaboratively as possible toward a better outcome. These early experiences taught me that you can and should learn new skills, broaden your scope and try. If you don't take the risk because you're afraid to screw up, you'll never achieve your potential. Who are the three women - living or dead - that you would like to have drinks with and why? I would have loved to have known my maternal grandmother who reared 8 stepchildren and had 9 of her own. After she was widowed and in the shadow of the Great Depression, she owned a small portfolio of apartments. THOSE were hard times. During drinks with Admiral Michelle Howard (the first woman in the U.S. Navy to earn four stars), I'd ask about navigating her career and what real managerial challenge is about in a male-dominated environment. Madelon Talley was a pioneering Chief Investment Officer at the New York State Common Retirement Fund in the 1970s. She is credited with infusing the pension fund with the highest level of ethics and professionalism. I'd like to know what she thinks of today's investment climate and managers. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/23/business/madelon-talley-65-a-pioneer-on-male-dominated-wall-street.html What are you doing differently in 2014 that has had positive impact on your career? After 20 years at the same employer, I took a leap of faith in June to leave the known and familiar to confront new professional challenges and investment frontiers. I'm learning about climate risk and infrastructure and low-carbon investments, but within a fiduciary framework, and that yield an appropriate return for the risk taken. The UN Secretary-General has identified combating Climate Risk as one of the highest global priorities. This new adventure tracks my interest in new frontiers and gaining first mover advantage. I'm also exploring new fields of entrepreneurship developing in New York City --- which means globally, because technology has connected everyone and everywhere. Real Estate will always be closest to my heart, but everything is related to real estate when you think about it.