What CREW Taught Me About Navigating Change
As the old adage goes, the only constant is change. In commercial real estate, markets cycle, tenants’ needs evolve, and buildings transform to meet new demands. As brokers, we’re tasked with keeping up with these shifts and guiding clients through it all. And the ones who stay ahead of the trends are often rewarded with relationships that span decades.
My own career has evolved and demanded the same adaptability. Transitioning into brokerage wasn’t a straight line. My career has taken me from marketing to research to learning & development, and now to brokerage. With every transition, I’ve had to pivot, reorient existing relationships while developing new ones, and embrace uncertainty with confidence. Along the way, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) has been instrumental in sharpening those skills.
I joined CREW in 2012 because I was looking for a place to give back to others, and it aligned perfectly with my personal mission. The organization has provided me a place to practice showing up differently, reintroduce myself to the market, ask tough questions, build a network from scratch, and lean on mentors who have walked this path before.
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What I’ve learned is that leadership doesn’t just happen behind a desk or in a client meeting. It happens when you join a professional organization, volunteer for a committee, or take on a role that stretches you outside your comfort zone. During my years in CREW, I’ve gained:
- Strategic foresight: Just like we analyze lease expirations or reposition assets, serving in any professional organization requires thinking ahead, anticipating what your fellow members need, and creating opportunities for growth.
- Collaboration: CREW brings together professionals from every discipline of commercial real estate, teaching us to listen, partner and problem-solve in ways that directly translate to brokerage. I’m a proud recipient of CREW San Antonio’s Deal of the Year, where collaboration with other members to bring a deal to fruition was key.
- Resilience: Leadership roles in professional organizations often mean navigating transitions, aligning diverse perspectives and steering through uncertainty. Those crucial skills mirror what clients need in an advisor.
One of my earliest CREW experiences was saying yes to leading a lunch & learn session that I wasn’t sure I was ready to tackle. I remember the nerves of wondering if I had enough to offer, as it was very early in my career. Just like advising a client through a lease negotiation, I had to learn as I went along, relying on the strengths of my teammates – and in doing so discovered that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating the space for others to shine. For me, these lessons have been just as valuable as any market insight or transaction closed. They’ve reinforced that the best brokers (and the best leaders) are those who build trust, champion continuing education, and create lasting value through adaptability.
As I look ahead to the upcoming CREW Convention, I’m reminded of how powerful it is when we invest not only in our book of business, but in the communities that have shaped us. For me, CREW is that community, and I’m proud to continue to serve after all these years. I know many of my colleagues have had similar experiences with other CRE organizations. In the end, the lessons we learn in the community and through experience are the ones that make us the strongest advocates for our clients.
Yesenia Smith is a former CREW Network Foundation Board Member and President of CREW San Antonio. At Transwestern, she provides landlord representation services for a wide range of commercial properties with a focus on office and medical office assets. Previously, she led San Antonio’s marketing and research function for a decade, and has received numerous industry and business accolades throughout her career.
SEE ALSO:
- Seeds of Success: What it Takes To Create CRE Value
- 3 Ways Leadership Roles in Industry Organizations are Beneficial
- Building an Award-Winning Culture
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