I had already interned at two other real estate companies when I came to Lument in the summer after my junior year. I found that I enjoyed looking at deals from the debt side while feeling that my contributions were valued. In fact, I liked Lument so much that at the end of the summer I asked to stay on even though that meant going to the office during the day and going to school at night. When I graduated in January 2019, I started working at Lument full time.
Today, I’m head of the New York City bullpen, a group of analysts supporting originators across the entire company. We are at the front line, helping them screen deals that come in from brokers or clients. We run the models, pull market reports, and reach out to appraisers. If the deal passes muster, chances are very good that when it gets to underwriting, it should be pretty solid.
When I arrived at Lument, I was the only woman in the bullpen, but I never felt at a disadvantage. People here are collegial, collaborative, and supportive. But there’s definitely an ongoing effort to make Lument more diverse. I now have three other women on my team, and I’m always looking for tools and resources that can accelerate their careers.
The opportunity to mentor young women is one of the reasons I enjoy being part of CREW. I originally joined as a college student to find out more about career opportunities in real estate. Now, I see it as a way to give back. I also enjoy meeting women in other parts of the industry. And as a member of the New York Junior League, I get to meet women from all walks of life as we work together to strengthen our communities.
Volunteering is very important to me as a way to step back from my professional life. I have volunteered since I was a teenager at the Holy Apostles soup kitchen — and there is something about giving back through food that I find very satisfying. When you are providing people with hot meals, you see what a difference a small thing can make. It keeps me focused on what’s really important.
