That 鈥測es鈥� came up whenever there was an opportunity. But Knight says chances to progress were sometimes hard to come by, the remnant of a time when women were relegated to 鈥済etting the coffee or taking notes.鈥澛�
鈥淎nd often, that鈥檚 what I did, even though my position didn鈥檛 call for it. Now I鈥檓 more comfortable saying, 鈥榃hy don鈥檛 you get the coffee?鈥櫬� But it took me a long time to get there.鈥�
Allowed the freedom to grow when she came to Ackerberg, she remembers past positions that simply didn鈥檛 recognize the importance of diversity. 鈥淚f it was hard for me, as a younger woman, how hard must it have been for people with different skin colors or for those for whom English wasn鈥檛 their native language? How much harder must it be for people with different physical abilities or with different gender identities?鈥�
Out in the Open
Of course, while that remnant of a former time remains, Knight recognizes the progress the industry has made, especially the property management industry. 鈥淏ias isn鈥檛 always done purposefully,鈥� she says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 often a cultural or generational thing, and then handed down.鈥� The good news is that 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e talking more about it today, something we should have been talking about decades ago. But still, not everyone鈥檚 attitude has changed, and I'm not sure everyone wants to change.鈥�
The question is, 鈥淗ow do we create bigger tables, where everyone feels welcome and valued?鈥� she asks. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what these open and honest conversations about equity are about, but it still makes some people uncomfortable.鈥�
Apparently not at Ackerberg and, as it has grown, so has Knight. The firm has added investment fund management to its real estate services. 鈥淣ow I get to help create and oversee investment funds. We鈥檙e currently in the capital-raising phase for our third fund and actively looking for new opportunities.鈥�
She reports that, between the two existing funds and previous private holdings, Ackerberg currently has 30-plus assets in its portfolio, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e actively acquiring and disposing of properties. We鈥檝e sold a number of assets in the past 18 months.鈥� She enjoys the contrast between long-term holds and 鈥渟horter time spans, which means we manage our properties a little differently.鈥澛�
It should be noted that the firm is also into development, providing a still-broader range of exposures for all involved. 鈥淲e do all the prime property types,鈥� she says, 鈥渙ffice, multifamily, industrial, and retail, and we do all life cycles. I might buy a fully stabilized office building just for cash flow, or buy a piece of dirt for a ground-up development,鈥� such as a recently completed modular apartment building in St. Paul, MN.
Surprisingly, Knight, who serves on 乐竞体育赛事直播鈥檚 Student & Academic Outreach Advisory Board, states success in property management doesn鈥檛 necessarily require a formal education. 鈥淚 might be the exception here, but I don鈥檛 know that you need a four-year degree to become a property manager. Eighty percent of my job is crisis management, and you don鈥檛 learn that or how to deal with a frustrated resident when you鈥檙e in college. Those are people skills you just have, or you don鈥檛.鈥�
So, what advice does she offer newbies? 鈥淛ust get a job in the profession, even if it鈥檚 as a leasing agent鈥檚 assistant, and even if it鈥檚 nights and weekends, or as a summer intern. Try it out. I love that every day is new and different, and I never know what I鈥檒l do day-to- day.鈥澛�
For that reason, she says her daily to-do list rarely gets done, 鈥渁nd I love it. But it鈥檚 not a good fit for everyone. Try it and see if you catch the passion for it.鈥�
The Power of Yes
Saying yes, then, has clearly paid off for Knight. She credits 乐竞体育赛事直播 with building her confidence to take on added responsibilities. She credits the educational programs and the access to other members who are in better positions to answer certain questions that come up, such as when a client recently raised a question about condominium management. 鈥淚 know nothing about condominium management, but I knew I could reach out to friends in 乐竞体育赛事直播. I have yet to be told no by another member.鈥�
She also credits the Institute for highlighting the moral issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), 鈥渁nd the fact that it鈥檚 just good business. The more diverse opinions participating in conversations, the better we鈥檒l be in designing and operating our buildings, and the happier our tenants will be because of the services we鈥檙e offering. It鈥檚 good for everybody if we begin to build a different future together.鈥澛�