CRE8 Expands to Vancouver: A New Networking Hub for Women in Commercial Real Estate

📅 2 days ago

The grassroots networking group CRE8 has officially launched a chapter in Vancouver, aimed at empowering women in the commercial real estate sector and facilitating relationships on the deal-making level.

In the realm of real estate, the significance of location cannot be overstated. However, the business aspect often hinges on the relationships that professionals forge over time. Recognizing this critical factor in commercial real estate (CRE), a group of women in Toronto set out to create a platform that would enhance networking opportunities for women involved in the transaction side of the industry. This initiative culminated in the establishment of CRE8 in 2018, a grassroots organization specifically designed for women in brokerage and landlord representation.
Founders Lyndsay Hopps, Christina Karam, Lauren Luchini, Sonya Donovan, and Izzy Lazarova aimed to address the lack of spaces for women to connect meaningfully within the CRE sector. As Karam articulated in a LinkedIn post following CRE8’s incorporation as a not-for-profit entity, "The commercial real estate industry has come a long way in improving diversity, fostering growth and career development for women, but the reality is that we still have a long way to go." The group’s mission centers on empowering women to cultivate relationships, share knowledge, and create opportunities that propel their careers forward.
Initially, CRE8 started with a single networking event, but it has since evolved into a robust community offering regular events, educational sessions, and mentorship programs. Membership has surged to over 430 women. Among these members is Bahareh Tabar, who transitioned from Vancouver to Toronto to work with Avison Young before joining Cushman & Wakefield. After returning to Vancouver, Tabar played a pivotal role in launching CRE8’s Vancouver chapter this year.
Tabar recounted, "I was a part of CRE8 in Toronto and I’m still very good friends with Lauren Luchini, one of the founders in Toronto." When she moved back to Vancouver, discussions among the board members about establishing a local chapter led to her recruiting a committee to help form the Vancouver Board. This new chapter is now led by Tabar, alongside Karly MacRae from Cushman & Wakefield, Stephanie Yeargin from Avison Young, and Alicia Chung from Conwest Developments.
The leadership team reflects a strategic intent to cover various asset classes, with Tabar focusing on retail, MacRae on industrial, Yeargin on office, and Chung on landlord-side industrial. The commercial real estate landscape has historically been male-dominated, which has allowed male brokers to forge long-standing relationships. The emergence of platforms like CRE8 is crucial in enabling women to establish similar networks, as highlighted by both Tabar and Yeargin.
Yeargin emphasized the importance of trust in facilitating deals, stating, "It makes it a lot easier to get a deal done if you know you can trust the person on the other side of the transaction." This trust is often cultivated through informal relationships, which have been more accessible to male colleagues due to the existing power dynamics in the industry. By creating a supportive network, CRE8 aims to level the playing field for women brokers, helping to build the necessary relationships that can lead to successful transactions.
While some may draw parallels between CRE8 and the globally recognized CREW Network, which also has a chapter in Vancouver, Tabar pointed out the distinct focus of CRE8. The larger CREW organization, while valuable, encompasses a broad spectrum of professionals, which can dilute the networking experience for those specifically on the deal side. "At the end of the day you do these organizations to support each other and help each other build business and share information so we can all do more deals and make more money," Tabar remarked.
In contrast, CRE8 fosters a more intimate environment that allows members to build meaningful connections. The organization is dedicated to removing barriers to participation, with all events being sponsorship-funded, thereby alleviating financial constraints that might hinder potential members from joining.
Looking ahead, Tabar shared plans for ongoing bi-monthly events tailored to each asset class, where members can collaborate and discuss current projects. The aim is to expand membership and enrich the community further in the coming year. As Tabar succinctly stated, "Your reputation is priceless." This sentiment resonates deeply in a field where relationships are paramount, and the CRE8 platform is poised to empower women to navigate their careers effectively in commercial real estate.

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