2025 Women in CRE: Helen Hwang, Meridian Capital Group

What has been the most rewarding project or deal you’ve worked on in your career, and why?

One of the most meaningful deals in my career was the sale of 1865 Bdwy., the former headquarters of the American Bible Society in New York City. I was representing a nonprofit whose mission I deeply respect, and the sale was critical in funding their relocation to Philadelphia. It was a particularly challenging period in the market — super luxury land sales were stagnant, and large development sites were especially difficult to move. Despite the market volatility, we navigated these headwinds and successfully closed the transaction. But what made it truly rewarding was the deep trust and partnership we built with the board throughout the process. My team and I recently visited their new headquarters and museum in Philadelphia, and it was incredibly fulfilling to see how the sale enabled such meaningful transformation. Being part of a transaction that facilitated genuine institutional impact — that’s the intersection of business and purpose that makes this work so compelling.

What skill or quality do you believe is essential for success in your field today?

Relentless hard work combined with intellectual rigor. Having strong credentials and connections certainly helps, but they’re insufficient without the foundational commitment to deep expertise and consistent execution. What truly drives success in commercial real estate is the discipline to master your craft and the persistence to deliver results, especially when market conditions test your resolve. I never anticipated working in this industry. I planned to become a doctor and focused on math and science — my natural strengths. Coming from an immigrant family with no ties to commercial real estate, I had no network or established pathway. I had to construct my knowledge base methodically, learning everything from scratch. That experience taught me something crucial: this business ultimately rewards substance over style.

When you combine genuine expertise with disciplined execution and unwavering follow-through, you create sustainable competitive advantage. It’s not about leveraging a single relationship or capitalizing on one market cycle — it’s about building a reputation for insight and reliability that becomes your foundation for long-term success.

If you could change one thing about the CRE industry, what would it be and why? I’d love to see more strategic collaboration and mutual understanding between stakeholders—especially between the public and private sectors. Too often, critical policies are developed in isolation, without sufficient dialogue about their long-term impact on development, affordability, and urban resilience. At ULI New York, where I serve as chair, we’re actively working to bridge this gap. Our mission is to be a trusted, nonpartisan resource that brings together government, industry, and communities through rigorous research, education, and meaningful dialogue. We believe that when stakeholders understand each other’s constraints and objectives, we can develop more effective, equitable solutions for New York’s future. This isn’t about eliminating healthy debate — it’s about ensuring those discussions are grounded in shared facts and data-driven analysis rather than assumptions or ideology.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in commercial real estate? I’d give her the same advice I’d give anyone: work relentlessly and become the definitive expert in your space. Once you have unassailable substance, everything else follows naturally. It’s tempting to focus on networking, mentorship, or navigating perceptions — and while those elements matter, none are sustainable without genuine expertise and consistent execution. Focus intensively on developing deep knowledge, mastering technical competencies, and delivering superior results. That’s how you build credibility, influence, and a career that endures. The commercial real estate industry, perhaps more than many others, ultimately rewards performance over politics. When you consistently provide thoughtful insights, creative solutions, and successful outcomes, you create your own leverage and attract the right opportunities and collaborators — those who value substance and results above all else.