SPRING 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 33 IMPACT COLLABORATIVE “THERE IS A COMMON SAYING IN BIG BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE TO ‘KILL WHAT WE EAT.’ AS A WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS, WE PREFER TO PLANT WHAT WE EAT.” — CAROL PISTONE By Carolyn Pistone We are in the midst of a significant shift taking place for women andminorities nationally and abroad. When we opened our doors for business in June 2014 as the newly formed entity Clear Blue Commercial, I had some idea as a woman in the commercial real estate industry of what challenges might arise. But I have been increasingly amazed at the triumphs that have accompanied those challenges. From the beginning, we have taken a firm stance on “collaboration being the new competition” and that real change in the industry and in the world takes place when people help each other and benefit with a win-win result. We started as a company of working mothers — inmy opinion the most productive untapped workforce out there — and have expanded that vision to encompass a variety of talented and diverse individuals with a full pallet of skills, interests, and demands on their time. We have sought to create an atmosphere that allows our team to express their highest and best selves in their work, our work, and among our community. This means finding ways to encourage worklife balance for every member of the team. I have had to learn to lead by example in this area. As I have become more present inmy family, inmy own spirit, and inmy community, it has allowedme to bring a broader (read Broad’s) perspective to my team at work. This has inspired them to do the same. It has made the workplace more fun, deepened our relationships, and created an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. I spent many years in a male-dominated workplace and benefited tremendously from it. I have learned from some of the best and worst leaders the work world has to offer. These experiences ledme to create a workplace where I feel like I can thrive, where everyone is treated well, and has the opportunity to benefit from everyone else’s good fortune. n Carolyn Pistone is president and general manager of Clear Blue Commercial. Working Mothers Are the World’s Most Productive Workforce MALTE MUELLER
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