Women Influencers

This week on Women Influencers, we compiled three of the great questions my guests have asked me. I am honored to have the opportunity to chat with amazing, influential women on the podcast and it is always an honor to consider and respond to insightful inquiries.

Denise Berry asked how I balance travel, podcasting, and Real Estate.

Ruby Zetino asked how I define success.

Kortney Ross asked me why I think diversity is important for business owners.

Watch to find out how I answered!

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur

In this episode of Women Influencers, I sit down with Jessica Aksu, Principal at T&G Constructors, whose story is rooted in resilience, transformation, and strength. Born and raised in Central Florida, Jessica is the daughter of a Turkish father and American mother, and is the first woman on her father’s side to read and write — a powerful legacy that’s shaped her identity and leadership journey. But her path to the top wasn’t without heartbreak. In 2018, Jessica lost her husband in a tragic accident caused by a drunk driver, a moment that forever changed her life.

After taking time to grieve, Jessica was encouraged by a mentor to focus on what she could control. That advice became a turning point. She pivoted to business development and began rebuilding her life piece by piece — personally and professionally. Her grit and drive led her to become a Principal at T&G Constructors, where she now helps lead one of the most respected firms in the industry. Today, she’s also remarried and raising a young son, balancing motherhood and business with grace and purpose.

Jessica’s journey is a testament to perseverance in the face of unimaginable loss. Through vulnerability, faith, and hard work, she found strength on the other side of tragedy. She’s passionate about inspiring other women to find their voice and build their own legacies, no matter the obstacles. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can rise — and lead — with authenticity, courage, and heart.

“Always be genuine.” - Jessica Aksu

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Jessica:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaaksu/

T&G Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/244110/admin/dashboard/

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesaksu/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #construction #grief

In this episode of Women Influencers, I sit down with Stephen Bittel, the founder of Terranova, an opportunistic alternative investment firm with a core focus on U.S. real estate. Stephen shares his journey from his humble beginnings in Miami to becoming the Chairman & Founder of a billion dollar corporation. He talks about his time at Bowdoin College, where he developed a strong work ethic that would shape his entrepreneurial success. After a year in Europe studying foreign investment, Stephen studied Law at the University of Miami while working full time at a Commercial Real Estate Firm. When he was offered an opportunity to go from a salaried position to commission, he decided instead to quit and found the company that would become Terranova.

Stephen discusses his challenges in the early years, including market crashes, high debt, and the risks of entrepreneurship. Despite these struggles, he managed to build Terranova into a successful firm with a large portfolio of properties and an expansive team.

A key part of Stephen’s story is his commitment to choosing the right person for the job based on merit, which happened to lead to the next 3 presidents succeeding him all being women. The first of which was Beth Azor, who hosts the annual Women’s Real Estate Investment Summit. Stephen emphasizes that women should have a seat at the table in all industries. He also shares his perspective on the importance of mentorship, hard work, and perseverance, particularly during tough economic times.

Stephen’s advice to young professionals: find a mentor whose values align with yours, be willing to put in the work, and always be prepared for the next opportunity. His story of resilience, vision, and leadership offers valuable lessons for anyone striving for success in business and beyond.

“The key is the right mentor.” - Stephen Bittel

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Stephen:

Instagram: @terranovacorp

LinkedIn: Terranova Corporation  

LinkedIn: @stephenbittel 

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #Investments #Terranova 

In this episode of Women Influencers, I sit down with Arleen Garza, co-founder of REEP Equity, a multi-family investment firm based in San Antonio, Texas. Arleen grew up in a large family in West Texas, where she learned early on the value of hard work and leadership. With a passion for finance, she pursued a degree in the field and began her career in banking. After 20 years in the banking industry, Arleen and her husband transitioned into real estate, starting their business with just 24 units. Today, REEP Equity has grown to manage over $750 million in assets with nearly 6,000 units.

Arleen’s journey to success was shaped by perseverance, a willingness to step into new challenges, and a commitment to creating a positive work environment. She shares her insights on balancing business and family, the importance of delegating, and the value of making bold decisions. Arleen also discusses the impact of exposing her children to the business world and how they’ve grown into confident business professionals working in the family business. Her story is a testament to the power of bold action, strong partnerships, and staying true to one’s vision.

She emphasizes the importance of managing finances and taking control of your financial future. Her story is an inspiration for anyone looking to make their mark in the world of real estate and beyond.

“Ask for what you want and take the necessary action to make it happen.” - Arleen Garza

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Arleen:

Amazon link for Leap of Faith - https://amzn.to/4c0qN8Y

Empowered Investing with Leading Ladies - https://bit.ly/43ZDoav

REEP Equity Invest with Us - https://bit.ly/3DOyMte

REEP Equity Resources - https://bit.ly/4iVgTaW

ArleenGarza.com - https://bit.ly/4iCjoiB

LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4hlb85m

REEP Residential - https://bit.ly/4c3sbaV

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #Finance #Banking #Assets

In this episode of Women Influencers, I sit down with Mia-Belle Berrios, the head coach of the girls' wrestling team at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee, Florida. Mia's journey into the male-dominated world of wrestling began at a young age when she fell in love with the sport after watching the Ultimate Fighter Championship with her stepdad. She quickly realized her passion for wrestling, winning 3 Florida State Championships and earning both Academic and Athletic scholarships to wrestle at the University of the Cumberlands. After her competitive years, Mia transitioned into coaching, returning to her high school roots to guide the next generation of wrestlers while working in Tech as a Senior Customer Service Success Manager.

As a coach, Mia is dedicated to empowering young women, teaching them not only how to wrestle but how to embrace vulnerability and be true to themselves. She emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and overcoming the internal voices that may hold them back. Her own experience as a female wrestler in a male-dominated sport has shaped her coaching style, and she works hard to ensure that her athletes feel supported and respected, both on and off the mat. 

Mia's story is one of perseverance and breaking barriers. She has faced many challenges, but through them, she has grown stronger and more determined. Her philosophy is simple: with passion, determination, and self-belief, everything else becomes easier. As she shares, “Once you wrestle, everything in life is easy,” a quote from legendary Olympic Gold Medalist and Hall of Fame wrestling coach Dan Gable, which she lives by every day. Mia’s impact is far-reaching, inspiring young women to pursue their dreams and stand tall in the face of adversity.

“Learn to push forward and onward.” - Mia-Belle Berrios

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Mia:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mia-belle-berrios-463071185/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #Teaching #Leadership #Wrestling

This week on Women Influencers, we compiled three of the great questions my guests have asked me. I am honored to have the opportunity to chat with amazing, influential women on the podcast and it is always an honor to consider and respond to insightful inquiries.

Tiffany Curry asked how I've been able to overcome the challenges associated with entering a male dominated industry like Commercial Real Estate.

Allison Weis asked how I deal with uncertainty as an entrepreneur.

Monica Cataluña Shand, CCIM asked what my biggest business regret has been, so far.

Watch to find out how I answered!

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur

In this episode of Women Influencers, I speak with Sandy Tush, Executive in Residence at Milestone Leadership, about her journey in leadership development. Sandy grew up on a Kansas farm and initially pursued engineering at Kansas State University. After shifting her focus to computer science and math education, she became a full-time faculty member at Tulsa Community College. Eventually, her career led her to Walmart, where she discovered her passion for leadership development, which led to her co-founding Milestone Leadership.

Sandy takes pride in influencing hiring practices and using a data-driven approach to align candidates’ skills and aspirations with an organization’s needs. Her focus on personalized recruitment has had a significant impact on the companies and individuals she’s worked with, helping build strong, authentic workplace cultures.

In 2009-2010, Sandy faced a challenging time that brought her anxiety to the surface. With support from colleagues and family, she overcame this period. Sandy now shares her experiences openly, believing that vulnerability and asking for help are vital in overcoming struggles and growing as a leader.

“Go after it.” - Sandy Tush

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Sandy:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandytush/

https://milestoneleadership.com/our-team/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #Teaching #Leadership

In this week’s phenomenal episode of Women Influencers, I speak with Jenny Fielding, founder and investor at Everywhere Ventures and author of Venture Everywhere. Jenny shares her unconventional journey from law school and banking to becoming an "accidental entrepreneur" and venture capitalist. She started her first company in 2007, driven by a desire to solve a problem rather than build a startup. That venture grew into a thriving business, launching her into the world of entrepreneurship and, eventually, investing in early-stage tech companies worldwide.

Jenny's investment philosophy is shaped by her global perspective and belief that innovation is everywhere. Inspired by her grandmother’s adventurous spirit, she has traveled to over 100 countries and invested in entrepreneurs across 30 nations. Her book, Venture Everywhere, highlights 12 entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who have built successful companies outside of traditional tech hubs. Through her work, she has helped create a more inclusive investment landscape, with a portfolio significantly more diverse than the industry average.

One of Jenny's proudest achievements is challenging the status quo in venture capital. While female founders typically receive only 2% of VC funding, her firm’s portfolio consists of 30% women-led startups. She has also overcome personal challenges, including the difficult decision to leave corporate America and embrace the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. She emphasizes the importance of self-belief and taking small, incremental steps toward one's goals.

“Chart your own path." - Jenny Fielding

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Jenny:

https://www.jennyfielding.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #Systems #JennyFielding #venturecapital #accidentalentrepreneur

In this episode of Women Influencers, I had the pleasure of interviewing Siew Ting Foo, Asia's most influential and purposeful CMO. Siew Ting is a global Fortune 100 executive and a leader in human-centric transformational growth. She shares her journey from growing up in Singapore in a family that valued education, discipline, and the arts to becoming a seasoned leader in marketing with roles at Unilever, Mars, Diageo, Fonterra, and HP.

Siew Ting emphasizes the importance of purpose in leadership. She explains how discovering her purpose over 15 years ago reshaped her approach to leadership and team dynamics. She’s dedicated to inspiring future generations of female and marketing leaders, even publishing a book titled Building Brands with Soul. Her leadership is deeply rooted in her personal values of humility, resilience, and authenticity.

In addition to her professional achievements, Siew Ting shared her personal journey of overcoming self-doubt and childhood insecurities. She talks about how these early challenges motivated her to excel in leadership and marketing, but also how she learned to shift from a mindset of fear to one of abundance and self-love.

“Take time to find your purpose." - Siew Ting Foo

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Siew Ting:

soulforprofit.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/siewtingfoo/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #CMO

In this episode of Women Influencers, I interview Ioana Good, a journalist-turned-entrepreneur who co-founded Find a Rainmaker and Promova, a PR and branding agency. Ioana shares her incredible journey from immigrating to the United States from Romania with her mother and two suitcases to building a thriving career in media, corporate communications, and technology.

Growing up under a communist regime where freedom of speech was restricted, Ioana was drawn to journalism as a way to embrace and protect free expression. She earned a degree in journalism and international affairs from Northeastern University, working for major media outlets such as The Boston Globe, The Orlando Sentinel, and The Boston Phoenix. However, after facing challenges in the newsroom—particularly witnessing gender disparities in field assignments—she transitioned into corporate communications, earning a graduate degree to expand her expertise.

After two decades of working in PR, crisis communications, and branding, Ioana partnered with longtime colleague Adrien Maines to launch Promova, a woman-owned PR and branding agency. Promova, which means “to propel and advance” in both Romanian and Latin, specializes in helping companies leverage technology and data-driven insights to enhance their messaging and strategy. The duo later launched Find a Rainmaker, a software platform designed to analyze behavioral traits that drive business growth.

Ioana's proudest achievement is the internship program she established at Promova, which provides mentorship and career development for students in PR, corporate communication, and legal fields. Having been shaped by the mentorship of others in her own journey, she finds great fulfillment in giving back and helping others launch their careers.

Her advice to aspiring leaders? "You're always going to have challenges, but you just have to remind yourself, what is your mission?”

Connect with Veronica:

https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/

Connect with Ioana:

https://getpromova.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/promova-llc/

https://www.facebook.com/GetPromova

https://www.instagram.com/getpromova/

https://findarainmaker.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/find-a-rainmaker/

https://www.instagram.com/findarainmaker/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanagood/

#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #journalism #igood