Nareit’s REITalent series shines a spotlight on talent in the REIT industry, highlighting various roles within Nareit member companies and the unique career paths individuals have taken.
Nareit recently spoke with Alyssa Cable, creative manager at JBG SMITH (NYSE: JBGS). Find current job opportunities available with JBG SMITH .
How did you find your job at JBG SMITH?
I was approached on LinkedIn by a former co-worker who had joined JBG SMITH the year before and thought I would be a great fit for the graphic design role, which is what I started out as at the company.
And now you are a creative manager. What does a creative manager do at JBG SMITH?
I work closely with our team and our internal business partners to execute creative materials, which bring to life strategies to market our multi-family and retail spaces. Typically, we start with a creative brief and then we kick off the project. We figure out resource alignment, timelines, execution, and follow through from there. I also work with the corporate branding making sure everything stays tight and manage relationships with creative contractors and vendors, such as print and signage.
What advice would you give to someone who would like a job like yours?
I would say, don't be afraid to go after exactly what you want. The creative industry can be found in so many different facets. I think something that my mentor always told me because I used to be very shy and kind of timid is, "Closed mouths don't get fed." You need to speak up for yourself and go after what you want. The job description might be very daunting, but I think that people often find that they're a lot smarter and savvier and stronger than they ever knew. Just go after what you want.
Would you say that having a mentor was important to your career growth?
100% - I think having a mentor has been crucial. When I was starting out, I didn’t know much about how to develop my career. So having someone I could lean on in terms of figuring out my path was very crucial.
Why do you think someone in a creative field should look for a role at a REIT?
I think that commercial real estate and REITs are really in the forefront of shaping cities and neighborhoods across the nation, but even more so here in Washington, D.C. And I think that if you want a job or a career where you can really see something taking shape and the impact of it, commercial real estate is a great place to start seeing neighborhoods come to life. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a building go up that you either helped work on or market in some capacity.
And on the marketing side, we see all of these renderings, hear all of these ideas, and work with the development teams figuring out the brand and the people who are going to be living, working, or shopping in these spaces. After it's all said and done, you get to walk down the street and see that come to life, to see that building, to see those stores - it's a lot of fun.
What advice would you give someone who is considering a career change into commercial real estate, but does not have a background in CRE?
I would say it takes so many types of specialties and people to keep a REIT running - everything from marketing and creative to finance to brokerage. The types of positions available are endless. I would also say that it's a great place to start at an entry-level position and you may find a whole new passion. I've seen people go from working in marketing to becoming a broker. I've seen administrators go into finance or become a marketing manager. It's a really great place to grow your career and figure out what you want to do.
What is a challenge that you've faced at your company and how have you overcome it?
When I first started at JBG SMITH, they had not had an official graphic designer or creative person in that role and what we saw was a surge of creative projects and asks. I think people were really excited to see the things that they had been working on come alive in a visual way. But what we found was it was a lot of work for one person to manage.
I was enjoying all the projects and the different teams I was working with, but at the end of the day, it was a lot of work to carry. I reached out to my team leads and my direct reports and said, "This is a lot. How can we best organize the work and resources, so that everybody's getting the projects that they need done in a great way, but it's sustainable?” Since then, I've had amazing help from the company, still have an excellent product, and still show my worth at the company.
I think in any instance where you can speak up for yourself, especially if you are someone who is always delivering on time and really doing a great job, raise your hand if you need help. A lot of people suffer in silence and that's not healthy That's one of my biggest tips - don't be afraid.
What do you see as your greatest accomplishment to date?
Being able to work in the industry that I focused on in college is so rewarding and a huge accomplishment. I see so many people graduate for one thing that was really their passion, but they end up doing something that is not necessarily their passion. Commercial real estate really offered me a path to become a strategic thinker and really grow my career and make great connections. I'm very proud of that and I hope to continue to grow and stay in this industry.
What is something that you think senior executives could learn from people who are just starting out in their career?
I would say, especially for commercial real estate, to consider diversity. I think that making sure that you are filling your team with different voices, different backgrounds, and different types of people is key to innovation. Also, just really supporting your team. None of us are just one thing, so picking up on what your team members are good at and not just what you hired them for is important. I think those are the two pillars that are going to help your team be innovative and successful moving forward.
Please note: this interview has been edited for clarity.