2025 Women in CRE: Rachel Courtney, Ariel Property Advisors

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

The most rewarding project I’ve worked on is coordinating high school summer internship programs at Ariel by partnering with a local girls’ school and a nonprofit that helps students from underserved NYC neighborhoods attend top colleges/universities. I’ve coached students on workplace professionalism and presentation skills, participated in panel discussions, and guided their project work. I was fortunate to have amazing mentors in my own career, and it’s been deeply rewarding to pay that forward by connecting with these students and helping them to discover different career paths within CRE.

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

I would say don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know, but instead view the next step as an exciting challenge and a learning opportunity. Also it’s important to find the right firm to start your career with; one which can help you to learn and grow in the right direction. When I pivoted into Commercial Real Estate I had an interest in the industry and was hungry to learn more, but was also aware of there being a steep learning curve. By joining an amazing team of professionals who I am learning from and challenged by, I have been able to begin an exciting career CRE and develop new skills.

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

I believe that adaptability is essential for success in Commercial Real Estate. In today’s market, specifically with the evolution of technology and the advancement of AI, I think it is more important than ever to be able to effectively adapt to new ideas. This is particularly important when working in a role like mine with an Operations focus, where it is essential to be able to think ahead, and work on proactively incorporating new processes.