The Spotlight – A Women Speak CRE Podcast

From Intern to Industry Leader: Tori Nook's Journey in Commercial Real Estate 

In this episode of The Spotlight: A Women Speak CRE podcast, host Allison Weiss interviews commercial real estate entrepreneur Tori Nook. Tori shares her journey from her beginnings at John Carroll University to becoming a stand-out retail broker and industry leader.

She discusses the importance of internships, networking, and flexibility in achieving success. Tori also highlights her transition to starting her own company, Anchor Retail, and how she has built a culture of flexibility and empowerment within her firm.

The conversation delves into the significance of vulnerability, work ethic, and maintaining relationships in driving professional growth. Tori also speaks about her recent foray into social media to expand her influence and connect with broader audiences. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 

00:28 Tori's Journey into Real Estate 

01:26 Internships and Early Career 

03:17 Transition to Commercial Real Estate 

04:49 Building a Network and Gaining Experience 

06:44 Launching a Career in Retail Real Estate 

08:44 Keys to Success in Real Estate 

22:34 Entrepreneurial Leap and Starting a Business 

34:39 Hiring Challenges and Solutions 

35:21 Flexibility in the Workplace 

38:30 Adapting to COVID-19 

44:29 The Importance of Social Media 

00:52 Early Career and Internships 

01:07:25 Persistence Pays Off: Early Lessons 

01:08:14 Balancing Motherhood and Professionalism 

01:09:12 The Importance of Hard Work and Integrity 

01:15:23 Entrepreneurial Journey: From Broker to Business Owner 

01:24:47 Building a Flexible and Supportive Work Environment 

01:35:32 Embracing Social Media for Business Growth 

01:44:35 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom 

Guest | Tori Nook  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torirendanonook/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tori_nook/ 

X: https://x.com/ToriNook  

Website: https://anchorretail.com/ 

Host | Allison S. Weiss    

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/    

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonsweiss/   

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/   

Women Speak CRE   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-speak-cre/    

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenspeakcre/    

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WomenSpeakCRE    

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/ 

Finding Balance in CRE: Abigail Sievers' Success Story 

In this episode of The Spotlight - A Women Speak CRE Podcast, host Allison Weiss interviews Abigail Sievers, an industrial broker at JLL in Indianapolis. Abigail shares her journey into commercial real estate - from her early dream of becoming a news anchor to finding her niche in industrial brokerage.  

She details the challenges and obstacles she’s faced throughout her career, including navigating maternity leave & motherhood in a male-dominated industry, and prioritizing family while growing a thriving brokerage business.

Abigail emphasizes the importance of mentorship, authenticity, and having an abundance mindset.  

Today’s conversation also covers Abigail’s strategic use of LinkedIn for business development, the boundaries that help her balance a busy personal life with professional ambitions.

Abigail’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and finding support in both personal and professional spheres. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 

02:41 Abigail Sievers' Career Journey 

05:06 Transitioning from Marketing to Brokerage 

08:35 Leveraging LinkedIn for Business Development 

18:15 Balancing Motherhood and Career in CRE 

20:48 A Supportive Business Partner & Ally 

25:14 Navigating Career Transitions 

29:03 Mindset and Personal Growth 

31:27 Building Relationships in a Small Market 

39:11 Balancing Work and Family 

41:00 Future Aspirations and Final Thoughts 

Guest | Abigail Sievers 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-sievers-ab987226 

Firm Profile: https://www.jll.com/en-us/people/bio-broker/abigail.sievers  

Host | Allison S. Weiss   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonsweiss/  

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/  

Women Speak CRE  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-speak-cre/   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenspeakcre/   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WomenSpeakCRE   

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/   

Connecting Beyond Walls: Garland Fuller on Third Spaces and Community 

In this episode of The Spotlight - A Women Speak CRE podcast, host Allison Weiss interviews Garland Fuller, an award-winning third space culture and belonging consultant. With over 15 years of experience, Garland specializes in creating environments that foster community and connection.  

During the conversation, Garland discusses her journey into commercial real estate, her role in transforming AAREP LA, and her current work focused on reimagining community spaces.

The discussion covers the necessity of nuanced approaches to office space utilization, the importance of integrating human-centric design, and innovative ways to activate underused spaces.  

Highlights include Garland Fuller's “People, Place, Program” framework, the concept of third spaces, and the impact of evolving work environments on community building.  

This episode underscores the importance of adapting to new cultural and technological shifts to create meaningful, engaging workspaces. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 

02:09 Garland Fuller's Background and Career Journey 

06:49 Diversity and Inclusion in Commercial Real Estate 

10:06 Transforming AAREP LA 

17:02 Reimagining Work and Space 

25:36 Resetting Expectations in the Workplace 

27:12 Challenges of Returning to the Office 

28:23 Innovative Uses of Space 

30:42 Revitalizing Community Gatherings 

32:14 The Role of Virtual Reality in Real Estate 

33:41 Event Trends Making an Impact 

39:23 Implementing Effective Organizational Changes 

43:05 The Third Space Academy 

48:43 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook 

Guest | Garland Fuller  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garlandfuller/ 

Website: https://garlandfuller.com/ 

Third Space sign up: https://bit.ly/EnrollThirdSpaceAcademy 

EARLYBIRD CODE for $100 OFF for The Spotlight listeners 

Unplugged Session Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SyW6mxigS76vgx0mhCNf4A 

Follow Garland Fuller: https://prodigious-designer-8603.kit.com/2998145cf6 

Host | Allison S. Weiss   

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonsweiss/  

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/  

Women Speak CRE  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-speak-cre/   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenspeakcre/   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WomenSpeakCRE   

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/   

Likable Badass: Insights from Alison Fragale on Success and Influence 

In this episode of the Spotlight A Women Speak CRE podcast, host Allison Weiss interviews Alison Fragale, an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina, and bestselling author of 'Likable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve.'

The discussion centers around building social capital through an authentic, yet strategic framework of self-promotion, promotion of others, and asking for promotion.

Alison also delves into the challenges and strategies for women in male-dominated industries, the importance of bringing your authentic self to work, and how to navigate career transitions.

Listen in for additional insights on the role of public speaking, the evolving workplace dynamics in commercial real estate, and practical advice for women aiming for leadership roles amidst the large demographic shifts impacting the CRE industry in the next 5-10 years. 

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 

01:46 Welcoming Alison Fragale 

02:39 The Concept of Likable Badass 

03:39 Building Social Capital 

04:09 Self-Promotion Strategies 

07:23 The Power of Other Promotion 

09:18 Asking for Promotion 

14:43 Effective Email Responders 

19:01 The Role of Public Speaking 

22:04 Preparing for Generational Shifts in CRE 

26:43 Navigating Parenthood and Career Decisions 

27:08 Balancing Career and Family Life 

29:32 Adapting the Workforce for Women 

30:18 Advocating for Work-Life Balance 

32:39 Supporting Women in Male-Dominated Industries 

34:06 The Importance of Lifting Others Up 

37:02 The Power of Individual Impact 

38:36 Agree or Disagree: Thought-Provoking Statements 

45:39 Future Plans and Final Thoughts 

50:46 Podcast Conclusion and Takeaways 

Guest | Alison Fragale 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonfragale/ 

Website: https://alisonfragale.com/ 

Order Likeable Badass: https://alisonfragale.com/book/ 

Book Alison as a Speaker: https://alisonfragale.com/speaking/  

Host | Allison S. Weiss  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonsweiss/ 

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/ 

Women Speak CRE 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-speak-cre/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenspeakcre/  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WomenSpeakCRE  

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/  

Running Life's Marathon: Heather Ewing on Breaking Barriers in Commercial Real Estate 

In this episode of the Spotlight, a Women Speak CRE podcast, host Allison Weiss interviews Heather Ewing, founder and CEO of Abstract Commercial Real Estate.

Heather, a seasoned commercial real estate strategist and international marathoner, shares her unconventional journey into the industry, highlighting the life-changing car accident that propelled her into seeking her true purpose.

She discusses the integration of her personal passions, like running, with her professional life, and how these experiences sharpened her discipline and resilience. Heather also offers insights into navigating the commercial real estate market, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, strategic risk-taking, and continuous personal and professional development.

The conversation reveals how Heather balances her creative spirit with her business acumen, making her a standout leader in the retail and restaurant brokerage landscape of Madison, Wisconsin. 

00:00 Introduction to Heather Ewing 

02:33 Heather's Journey into Commercial Real Estate 

03:06 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose 

03:48 Transition to Commercial Brokerage 

04:59 Starting Abstract Commercial Real Estate 

05:15 Navigating Challenges and Embracing Change 

08:48 The Role of Family and Personal Growth 

12:42 Running and Real Estate: A Parallel Journey 

18:36 Building a Unique Brand in Commercial Real Estate 

23:07 The Importance of Providing Value 

24:03 Making a Splash in the Market 

26:04 Embracing Authenticity in Business 

29:30 Navigating Gender Dynamics in the Industry 

34:12 The Power of Personal Stories 

37:56 Mindset and Daily Routines 

42:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 

Social Media Details 

LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube: @WomenSpeakCRE 

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/ 

Host | Allison S. Weiss 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/ 

Instagram: @allisonsweiss 

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/ 

Guest | Heather Ewing 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermewing/ 

Website: https://www.abstractcommercialrealestate.com/ 

Thriving with Kindness and Excellence: Jen Hill's Journey 

In this episode of the Spotlight: A Women Speak CRE Podcast, host Allison S. Weiss engages in a deep conversation with Jen Hill, a distinguished leader with a 27-year career at one of CRE’s largest and most prestigious firms.

Jen shares her passion for culture, strategy, and execution, drawing from her extensive experience across a wide variety of verticals and asset classes within JLL. Jen emphasizes the importance of curiosity, relationship-building, and introspection in career growth, alongside her distinctive leadership style that balances kindness with high standards of excellence.

The conversation also touches on Jen's investment journey, showcasing her strategic approach to wealth creation. Towards the end, the discussion highlights the value of aligning one's career with personal values and fostering a kind yet high-performing work environment. 

00:00 Introduction to Today's Episode 

00:17 Meet Jen Hill: A Strategic Trailblazer 

03:27 Jen's Career Journey in Real Estate 

09:50 The US Army’s Housing Privatization Project

27:36 Mentorship and Career Advice 

32:19 Starting the Day with Purpose 

32:57 The Importance of Introspection 

33:54 Balancing Kindness and Excellence 

34:33 Kindness in Leadership 

37:38 Navigating Workplace Culture 

41:43 Building Strong Relationships 

48:28 Investing as a Woman 

56:00 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 

Social Media Details 

LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube: @WomenSpeakCRE 

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/ 

Host | Allison S. Weiss 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/ 

Instagram: @allisonsweiss 

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/ 

Guest | Jennifer Hill 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-hill-5812555/ 

Kate Brodock’s LinkedIn 

Kate Brodock’s latest CRE adaptive reuse project 

Building Impact: Carrie Bobb’s Real Estate and Legislative Legacy 

In this episode of the Spotlight - A Women Speak CRE podcast, retail expert Carrie Bobb shares insights from her extensive career in commercial real estate.

Carrie discusses her career retail leasing & placemaking, merchandising strategies, and her favorite projects, including leasing One Paseo in Del Mar.

Her foray into digital strategies with HelloJenny, further acquired by Foundry Commercial, is highlighted as a key development in aligning social media with real estate transactions.

Most notably, Carrie talks about her pivotal role in the creation of 'Carrie's Law,' which removed arbitration for sexual assault cases in the workplace.

This conversation delves into her journey of faith and personal development, her eventual move to Nashville, thoughts on future career steps, and reflections on balancing professional and personal life.

Additionally, the episode ends with a light-hearted and impromptu segment featuring Carrie's young son, Jack, discussing his interests and aspirations. 

00:00 Introduction to Carrie Bobb and Her Achievements 

03:11 Carrie's Early Career Journey 

05:17 Finding Her Niche in Retail 

07:09 Going Independent and Career Milestones 

09:15 Balancing Competition and Relationships 

20:36 Carrie's Law and Advocacy 

25:44 Faith and Professional Resilience 

28:22 HelloJenny and Social Media Strategies 

33:36 The Importance of Social Media for Young Professionals 

34:33 AI and Social Media: The New Search Engines 

36:09 Creating Authentic Content: Your Personal Voice vs. AI 

37:48 Navigating Social Media Platforms: X and LinkedIn 

38:58 Balancing Social Media and a Personal Life 

45:30 Reflecting on Career and Future Goals 

51:19 Clearing the Runway: Making Space for New Opportunities 

59:52 Special Episode: A Fun Chat with Jack 

Social Media Details 

LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube: @WomenSpeakCRE 

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/ 

Host | Allison S. Weiss 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/ 

Instagram: @allisonsweiss 

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/ 

Guest | Carrie Bobb 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriebobb/ 

Instagram/X: @carriebobb 

In this episode of the Spotlight, a Women Speak CRE podcast, host Allison S. Weiss welcomes Danielle Sprouls, founder of Unscripted Pivots, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of 'WTF Women That Flourish: Transform Your 'What the F' Moments into Your Greatest Wins.' Danielle shares her transformative journey from being an attorney and commercial real estate executive to launching her own coaching business. She discusses the pivotal moments in her life, her approach to overcoming fear, and the importance of embracing unscripted changes. Danielle also highlights her connection to her grandmother, DiDi, and the powerful lessons she imparted. The conversation provides valuable insights into resilience, the importance of community, and the courage to pivot with purpose. 

00:00 Introduction to Danielle Sprouls 

02:56 Danielle's Book: WTF Women That Flourish 

04:04 The Origin of WTF and Unscripted Pivots 

05:18 Danielle's Career Journey: From Law to Real Estate 

07:43 Personal Life and Career Pivots 

10:47 Embracing Change and Finding Purpose 

20:11 The Power of Faith and Sobriety 

25:32 Living with Intention and Community 

28:18 Navigating Job Transitions and Promotions 

28:50 Embracing Intuition and Legal Training 

29:45 Life Milestones and Career Pivots 

30:58 The Importance of Fear and Failure 

34:00 Moving to California and Starting Anew 

37:37 Mentorship and Giving Back 

41:45 Launching Group Coaching and Final Thoughts

Social Media Details 

LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube: @WomenSpeakCRE 

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/ 

Host | Allison S. Weiss 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/ 

Instagram: @allisonsweiss 

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/ 

Guest | Danielle Sprouls 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesproulsesq/ 

Website: https://www.unscriptedpivots.com/ 

X: https://x.com/The_WTF_Lady 

Bethany Babcock: A Journey from Outsider to Industry Leader 

In this episode of the Spotlight, a Women Speak CRE podcast, your host Allison S. Weiss welcomes Bethany Babcock, an industry titan who has made significant strides in property management, leasing, and investment sales over the past 20 years. 

The discussion covers Bethany's unconventional path into commercial real estate (CRE), her founding of Foresite Real Estate, her desire to leave CRE a better place than she found it, and how she manages to be innovative and authentic on social media. 

Bethany shares her journey from starting out in CRE through divine intervention to spearheading successful industry programs like the CRE Launch Program. 

This program has helped train and retain new talent across various universities and brokerage firms, cultivating a unique culture and earning accolades like the 'Best Place to Work for Small Businesses' by the San Antonio Business Journal. The episode also delves into the critical roles mentorship, values, and personal branding play in one's career, while highlighting Bethany’s impressive ability to balance her professional ambitions with personal life commitments. 

Following in our friend Beth Azor’s footsteps, we encourage listeners to support the CRE Launch Program through scholarships, mentoring, or volunteering, emphasizing the importance of fostering the next generation of talent in CRE. 

00:00 Introduction to the Spotlight Podcast 

00:12 Meet Bethany Babcock: A Titan in Real Estate 

03:55 Bethany's Journey: From Missionary Kid to Real Estate Professional 

06:01 Accidental Beginnings: Bethany's First Job in Real Estate 

07:41 Transitioning to Brokerage: Challenges and Triumphs 

09:43 The Importance of Mentorship in Bethany's Career 

11:24 Starting Foresite Real Estate: A Leap of Faith 

13:06 Leveraging Values and Mentorship for Success 

16:50 The CRE Launch Program: Bethany's Passion Project 

18:12 Launching a Virtual Internship Program 

18:49 The Evolution of the CRE Launch Program 

20:19 Program Structure and Opportunities 

22:52 Balancing Ambition and Family 

24:47 Personal Branding and Social Media Strategies 

27:19 The Importance of Resilience in Real Estate 

31:27 Reflecting on Career and Future Goals 

32:52 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 

 Social Media Details

LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube: @WomenSpeakCRE

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/

Host | Allison S. Weiss

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/

Instagram: @allisonsweiss

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/

Guest | Bethany Babcock

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanybabcock/

Website: https://foresitecre.com/

X: https://x.com/bethanyjbabcock

CRE Launch Program: https://cre-launch.com/

In this lively and wide-ranging episode of The Spotlight, host Allison S. Weiss chats with her good friend and powerhouse marketer, Mo Regalado. Mo is the founder of MoVo Media Marketing, a Spokane Valley-based agency specializing in social media strategy for commercial and residential real estate professionals. As a StoryBrand Certified Guide, Mo brings clarity, creativity, and humor to the process of helping clients show up authentically online.

Mo shares how a (self-described) disastrous interview with industry legend Beth Azor unexpectedly launched her into the commercial real estate world. From there, she built a business that centers client voice, neurodivergent strengths, and marketing with heart.

Together, Mo and Allison dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, the power of showing up as yourself on social, and how Mo’s “super ADHD” helps her tune into clients’ voices better than any algorithm could.

Whether you're building a brand, navigating male-dominated spaces, or trying to figure out what makes your voice stand out—this one’s for you.

From Bombed Interview to Breakthrough

• How a failed meeting with Beth Azor turned into a pivotal opportunity.

Building a Business from Scratch

• Mo shares lessons from launching Movo Media Marketing—mindset shifts, financial truths, and what she wishes she’d known earlier.

Authenticity Over Algorithms

• Why your real voice matters more than the latest trends—and how Mo uses mimicry and empathy to help clients sound like themselves.

Women Owning the Room

• Breaking through cultural conditioning, taking credit, and celebrating your own wins.The Messy Middle of Marketing Trends Mo’s take on AI, content originality, and giving proper credit in a copy-paste culture

Neurodivergence as Superpower

• How embracing her ADHD has helped Mo work smarter, not harder—and how it fuels creative strategy

“I can almost hear the way my clients speak in my head, and that’s how I create content that sounds exactly like them.”

“Social media isn’t your marketing plan—it’s a piece of it. You need a whole strategy.”

“If you’re not ready, I’m going to tell you you’re not ready—and give you a plan to get there.”

• 00:00 — Welcome & Intro
• 04:18 — Collaborating After a Failed Local Hire
• 08:52 — ADHD, Neurodiversity & Work
• 10:52 — The Dangers of Misused Pop Culture
• 14:25 — Client Budgets & Income Strategy
• 16:31 — Entrepreneurship: The Reality Check
• 19:12 — Unlearning Self-Diminishment
• 23:12 — Challenging Cultural Conditioning
• 28:38 — Authenticity > Professionalism
• 29:25 — What Connection Really Sounds Like
• 34:35 — Building a Social Strategy That Sticks
• 38:20 — AI in Marketing: The Good & The Caution
• 40:29 — Prompt Engineering Tips
• 44:23 — Giving Credit, Staying Original
• 46:54 — HypeFury, Repeated Tweets & Copycats
• 52:31 — Mo’s Take: Authenticity as Empowerment
• 53:41 — Closing Invitation: Join Women Speak CRE

Social Media Details

LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube: @WomenSpeakCRE

Website: https://www.womenspeakcre.com/

Host | Allison S. Weiss

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsweiss/

Instagram: @allisonsweiss

Website: https://www.crerecruiting.com/

Guest | Mo Regalado

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themoregalado/

Website: https://movomediamarketing.com/

X: https://x.com/themoregalado

Social Surge Livestreams: Tuesdays & Thursdays with Fly Jamerson

Mentioned: StoryBrand Framework, AI prompt for action figure intros (linked in show notes)

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