Women from YM/WREA discuss their careers: Audrey Novoa

Name: Audrey Novoa Title: Executive Managing Director Company/firm: Murray Hill Properties Years with company/firm: 8 ½ Years in field: 30 Years in real estate industry: 30 Address: 1140 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10036 Telephone: 212 763-3528 Email: [email protected] Responsibilities include: Tenant representation and landlord representaion Real estate organizations / affiliations: Young Men's & Women's Real Estate Association What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today? Thirty years ago, I decided to become a commercial real estate broker after having a successful career as a professional ballet dancer and having two beautiful children. I felt that working as a broker, I would have the flexibility to spend time with my children and that my career would provide me with the financial means to support my family. What I did not realize then was that I had joined a select small group of pioneer women who were attempting to push past the velvet rope of a predominantly male-dominated industry. At that time, most, women in the real estate profession were assisting as secretaries and receptionists. However, I persevered to become one of the dominant female players in the real estate industry by canvassing tenants and buildings, making appointments, and joining networking organizations such as YMWREA. I learned how to handle meetings and how to communicate effectively (a challenge because of all those years as a ballet dancer in which I used my body to communicate). Although I thought I would have plenty of time for my family, I worked very long hours. I learned that in order to succeed you must invest your entire being in the profession. Because of the intensity of my ballet training, I learned very early in life how to dedicate my concentration on whichever activity in which I was involved. This skill enabled me to always focus on the bottom line of any discussion or business transaction. Over time, I became stronger and more confident, learning to trust my intuition. Combined with my solid sense of ethics, I grew into a consummate real estate professional.