2021 Women in CRE: Jillian Mariutti-Nieder, JLL

Name: Jillian Mariutti-Nieder

Title: Senior Director

Company Name: JLL

In the past year, what project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?
I spearheaded an initiative at JLL on C-PACE financing. The goal of the initiative was to educate our clients on this financing tool. I worked closely with our Hotels & Hospitality Group to launch the marketing campaign on the initiative earlier this year. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, clients have approached JLL seeking alternative sources of capital for hotel projects facing liquidity issues. For hotel developers who have recently completed construction (ground-up or adaptive re-use) or major renovations, retroactive C-PACE financing is an under-utilized and often misunderstood source of efficiently priced capital, and JLL can run a competitive process to ensure their clients receive the best C-PACE terms. C-PACE financing just went live in New York City in May of this year, and we have been heavily focusing on how we can incorporate and educate this type of financing to New York City sponsors especially those who need to make renovations to comply with Local Law 97. I have originated and closed about $600 million in CRE financing this year, across multiple asset classes including industrial, hospitality, mixed-use, multifamily and condo inventory in New York, Florida, California and Austin.

How do you contribute to your community or your profession?
I am an active member of various CRE groups and organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a mentoring organization that ignites the power and promise of youth. I’m being honored among two others at this year’s Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC Casino Jazz Night. I am also a member of women in real estate networking communities like Girl Gang and CREW and am on the board of FOG and the Red Hook Initiative and frequently attends IMN, ALIS, and Bisnow Conferences.

How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles?
I keep my team motivated by fully embodying positive thinking. When negative obstacles come my way, I always think, why is this happening for me, not to me. Our thoughts and mindset are powerful and controllable. We are magnets that attract what we speak and think about. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Having a positive attitude despite conflicts thrown at you will in essence help attract more positive things into your life.

How do you advocate for your fellow women in real estate?
I am actively a part of various groups that support fellow women in CRE like Girl Gang, which is an organization of women in the industry that hold networking events once a month. The commercial real estate industry has amazing women who have mentored me and have been a sounding board when I needed advice during pivotal moments in my career. As a result of the guidance of my parents and mentors, I can now mentor younger female professionals in the space because I know how instrumental that was for me.

What books or social media influencers would you recommend to other women?
I would recommend “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, which has taught me the power of positive thinking, along with another favorite of mine, “Think and Grow Rich – The 13 Principles” by Napoleon Hill. One of the first principles in the book is the burning desire for success which I have applied to my CRE career.

Why should women consider a career in commercial real estate and related services?
One of the main reasons why women should consider a career in CRE and finance is that the results are tangible and extremely rewarding. It is stellar feeling when you look at your city skyline and know that you had a part in financing it. This is a fantastic industry for women who have desire to exemplify their quantitative and interpersonal skills. An overwhelming majority of CRE professionals are male, and there is a void to fill with a woman’s perspective. With a more diverse group of people and perspectives, different experiences and ideas are brought to the table, thus offering more well-rounded and robust feedback for our clients.

Tell us a thing or two about you that is NOT on your resume or LinkedIn profile?
I recently got married in June of this year to my husband, David Nieder. I manifested him, and our love story was published on the New York Times! “Ms. Mariutti met Mr. Nieder 11 days after sending a warm letter to the North Pole, while visiting Santa with her nieces at Macy’s on 34^th St. in Manhattan. The letter read in part, “I’d like to meet someone who loves me more than life itself, and for me to feel the same exact way about him — I’m asking for that once-in-a-lifetime kind of love.” Mariutti states that the power of manifestation is having that unwavering faith that your desires are truths. I am from South Philadelphia, born and raised. I often get asked about the best cheesesteak spot, Geno’s or Pat’s. My answer is that the best cheesesteaks in the city are Avenue Steaks at Broad and Oregon!