Rija Beares Vice President CBRE Years with company/firm: 15 Years in field: 16 Years in real estate industry: 16 Real estate affiliations: CBRE Tech/Media Practice; CBRE Women’s Network
Work is something you do, not somewhere you are.
What was your greatest professional accomplishment in 2017? I began working with a woman-owned business in 2009 that had 10 employees. In 2017, we signed a headquarters lease for 15,000 s/f. Through acquisition and organic growth, my client has grown into a multi-national firm. It is my greatest accomplishment that my client trusted me to be part of her success story. How do you manage the work/life balance? By realizing that home and work both need me more sometimes. Also by heeding the advice that work is something you do, not somewhere you are. Tell us how and when you began your career in the profession you are in, about your current position and why you choose the field/profession you are in today? I began my career in Bethesda, MD working for CoStar Group. I was focused on working in technology and we were in the middle of the dotcom bust of 2001. I quickly fell in love with the idea of working with a variety of people and companies to secure their offices and never looked back. Currently, I am an advisor to corporate occupiers of real estate and work with companies to deliver solutions at the intersection of talent, physical space and technology. What were some of your early goals and did anything happen in your career /profession to change them? The most wide-reaching goal that I had was to maintain integrity, work smart, earn my stripes and climb the corporate ladder. When I moved onto the advisory side of the business, most of the goals served me but it was quickly evident that ladder was non-existent. I had to pivot and focus on improving my experience and skill set to succeed and drop the head-down mentality. What unique qualities and or personality do you feel makes you most successful in your profession? Empathy, being an introvert and controlled perfectionism. What challenges and or obstacles do you feel you needed to overcome to become as successful as you are today? I had to quiet my inner critic. When you are constantly judging yourself, everything is all about you. I’ve been much more successful since making it all about my clients. What inspiring word of advice would you give to a young woman about to go into the field of commercial real estate or your allied field? The best service that you can do yourself is to swiftly learn your strengths and align with teams that complement you and you them. From there, determine how you’d like to grow and find a great mentor that exhibits the characteristics, skills or strengths that you admire.