2025 Women in CRE: Saemi Lee, Vocon

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

While it’s impossible to choose the most rewarding project from so many valuable collaborations, one that stands out is the repositioning of 11+15 East 26^th St. for Rockrose. With Vocon, we renovated the lobby, amenity floor, pre-built suites, and rooftop, revealing the beauty of a historic New York City building. Thoughtful design and upgrades created a warm, welcoming environment that stood out in a competitive market — boosting leasing activity, rents, and overall building value.

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

Empathy. I believe that you can have all the technical skill in the world, but if you can’t truly understand a client’s culture, challenges, and aspirations, you won’t be able to deliver for that client. Our job is design, but it is also part detective work and part storytelling — translating a vision into a space that not only functions, but inspires. The best design solutions come from listening deeply, making a meaningful connection with the client and/or the end user, and connecting design to purpose.

If you could change one thing about the CRE industry, what would it be and why?

I think it would benefit the industry and our culture if decisions were made with a longer-term, people-first mindset. The pressures of a leasing program often force decisions to be driven only by cost per s/f or rapid occupancy, without fully prioritizing how a space will support culture, attract talent, and adapt over time. Workplaces could deliver greater value for longer if landlords, brokers, and tenants had the luxury to focus on flexibility, amenities, and the employee experience alongside financial metrics.

What advice would you give to a woman considering a career in commercial real estate?

Don’t wait for permission to speak up — start building your voice from day one. This is still a male-dominated industry, but the perspective of women is not just valid, it’s needed. Seek out mentors who will share their wisdom and help you navigate challenges — but also find champions, the people who will actively open doors for you, put your name forward, and advocate for you when you’re not in the room. Nurture those relationships, keep learning, and remember—you don’t have to blend in to succeed; the thing that makes you different may be your greatest strength.