International Women's Day

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in the U.S., Avison Young is pleased to honor the occasion by profiling our co-workers across the globe. Through their stories, we hope to inspire you by the challenges and celebrations of women’s achievements highlighted in each of these individual stories.

Suzanne Wiehler

Senior Property Manager Toronto, Canada

I challenge all women to support and lift each other up. No matter where you are in life, inspire and empower the women around you.

Keith Lipton

Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Operations Washington, D.C.

I chose to challenge the industry norm of hiring practices.

Penny Hacking

Principal, European Capital Markets London, U.K.

Find one or two mentors, both male or female who can advise and help guide you through the real estate business.

Joe Gaither

Director; Project Management Atlanta, Georgia

I celebrate the fast growth in the number of women in commercial construction management.

Sherri Giacinto

Property Manager Charleston, South Carolina

Remember the importance of human connection.

Liz Lewis

HR Project Manager Washington, D.C.

I challenge women to resist the urge to see each other as competition and instead see teammates or allies.

Tanya Cheung

Senior Marketing Manager Vancouver BC

I toast my glass to all parents and guardians who are raising strong and fierce women, and supportive men who are helping in forging a gender equal world.

Jennifer Vaux

U.S. Director of Office Research San Jose, California

I challenge each of us to take better care of one another, and to take better care of ourselves.

Mark Hartum

Principal, Office Sales & Leasing Edmonton, Canada

I choose to honour and celebrate women that don’t conform to preconceived notions of how to pursue their dreams or define success.

Erik Dierdorff

Talent Acquisition Lead Chicago, Illinois

I choose to celebrate all of the women whom I partner with daily as a member of the talent acquisition team.

Nicole Warner

Marketing Coordinator Minneapolis, Minnesota

I choose to challenge gender stereotypes and biases.

Kinsey Alexander

Assistant Property Manager Dallas, Texas

I challenge myself to expand my social circle to include women further advanced in their goals to inspire me, women just coming into their own that I can mentor and women from various backgrounds that I can learn from.

Michael Church

Managing Director & Principal, Office Leasing & Sales Ottawa, Ontario

I am going to make a conscious effort to change the behavior of some of my colleagues and friends who are still stuck with an “old school” mentality when it comes to their senses of humor and how they use it.

Starr Argyrakis

Knowledge Manager Houston, Texas

I challenge women to find and use their voice – both in the workplace and in the world – to change gender stereotypes.

Ashley Jackrel

Senior Associate, Office & Investment Services Charleston, South Carolina

I Choose to Challenge traditional gender norms.

Ranya Majeed

Senior Marketing Manager Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I choose to challenge name pronunciation, especially for names of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Warren Smith

Managing Director Nashville, Tennessee

I choose to be more intentional in celebrating individual successes with a particular highlight on the obstacles overcome in each success.

Kate Green

Associate London, U.K.

This year, I'm choosing to challenge language.

Jena Warner

Marketing Manager Phoenix, Arizona

My challenge is to support homeless women and children in my community.

Ros Goode

Managing Director, London London, U.K.

We must continue to challenge the routes of access into our industry.

Jacqueline Bond

Operations Coordinator Denver, Colorado

I Choose to Challenge to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, to encourage others, and to set a good example.

David Genovese

Managing Director / Principal Phoenix, Arizona

Having driven and successful women in CRE has influenced the industry for the better - creating a more balanced and diverse perspective for our clients.

Simone Knopf

Director Investment, Management Frankfurt, Germany

I challenge myself to say "NO" when needed.

Alison Taylor

Managing Director, Glasgow, U.K. Executive Member and Principal Glasgow, U.K.

I choose to celebrate women's achievements.

Joan Skelton

Global Lead for Diversity & Inclusion Atlanta, Georgia

I Choose to Challenge myself to use the platform I have within AY to shine the spotlight on as many women as possible.

Virginia Blackman

Principal and member of the U.K. Executive Committee London, U.K.

Challenge conformity! Conformity is no longer the safe option - it will lead to obsolescence.

Emma Berry

Director, Regional Head, North West Real Estate Management Manchester, U.K.

I choose to celebrate and champion individuals who speak up about inequality and gender bias.

Rebekah Loverock

Director, National Operations, Canada Toronto, Canada

I #choosetochallenge everyone to own the difference your difference makes.

May Chen

Global Finance Manager Boston, Massachusetts

I choose to celebrate the success of women I work with and encourage more young women in AY to go for the big roles.

Mark Rose

Chairman & CEO of Avison Young Toronto, Canada

I choose to honor women's triumphs and challenges.

Susan Fiesta

Global Tax Director Chicago, Illinois

I am challenging myself to stop apologizing unnecessarily, deflecting compliments, or making self-deprecating comments.

Christine Battist

Chief Financial Officer Chicago, Illinois

I will use my voice to ensure others are included, heard and recognized. I will also use my voice to ask uncomfortable questions and seek knowledge.

Shella Scheller

Affinity Group Coordinator Edmonton, Canada

I challenge everyone to support a charity that provides support for women. Women supporting women is a powerful force, and finding ways to give back to my community is incredibly rewarding.

Stephanie Yeargin

Associate, Vancouver, BC Canada

I #ChooseToChallenge men and women both to get to know the fantastic, talented women in your workplace a little deeper. You may be surprised by what you learn which will hopefully challenge stereotypes and lead to a more inclusive environment.

Stacy Farmer

VP Marketing, NC & Southeast Region Marketing Lead Raleigh, North Carolina

I choose to celebrate women who have overcome adversity or been overlooked. I challenge myself to seek out and support women who want more and need an advocate.

Angela Fagnani

Project and Property Manager Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

I really want to work to reverse the stereotype that women don’t support other women. I like the mindset - if given a chance, listen to her story.

Mary Tamaki

Principal and North America Director of Marketing Los Angeles, California

I choose to celebrate the women artists, writers, and musicians who share their stories fearlessly, with authenticity. I choose to challenge myself to be so brave.

Alex Darlington

Associate, Capital Markets Birmingham, UK

I choose to celebrate the success of the wonderful women I surround myself with every day at work and in my personal life.

Beth Burke

Finance Director for Midwest Markets Chicago, Illinois

This year, I would like to look for new ways to be a supporter of other women, so we can succeed together.

Steph Eastwood

Associate Director, Planning, Development and Regeneration Birmingham, UK

I choose to celebrate all of the working parents who have done their best to juggle parenting, work and other commitments, particularly over the last 11 months with home schooling thrown into the mix!

Carolin Schreinert

European Marketing & Business Development Coordinator Frankfurt, Germany

Stay true to yourself. Speak about objectives, desires, wishes. Don't feel silly for following your goals, ideas & projects.

Steph Perez

IT Coordinator Chicago, Illinois

I choose to celebrate, embrace and educate myself on the differences I encounter within my community and the human race at large.

Caroline Pooley

Principal, Real Estate Management London & Birmingham, UK

I choose to challenge my own assumptions - trying to ensure I am not inadvertently making any - and to challenge any behaviours I see that I may be "used to", but would not like my daughter to experience.

Anne-Marie Ayers

Principal, Office Tampa, Florida

Diversity makes every aspect of our life more enriching and enjoyable.

Beth Phillips

Principal & Managing Director Chicago, Illinois

I choose to challenge all men and women to ask themselves if they are creating an environment in their personal and professional lives that makes their co-workers, friends and family truly shine.

Paige Korte

Associate Chicago, Illinois

I celebrate everyone who has taken on mentorship roles and shared their successes and hardships to support and advise the younger generations.

Julian Rose

Senior Building Surveyor London, U.K.

I choose to celebrate the advances that have been made on the representation of women at the highest levels of British industry.

Ashleigh Mavros

Internal Communications Specialist Chicago, Illinois

I #ChooseToChallenge looking through an intersectional lens when it comes to women’s inequality and injustice.

Rosemary Silver

Chartered Building Surveyor London, U.K.

I advise women to reach out to other women, as we are a minority and we don't always network the same way as men do.

Marcy Moneypenny

Principal, Managing Director Denver, Colorado

I choose to celebrate more inclusion through embracing diversity of thought and recognizing unconscious bias.

Vikki Bingham

Director, U.K. Client and Business Development Bristol, U.K.

I choose to challenge the status quo and keep pushing for positive change and to celebrate when it happens.

Caroline Brennan

Marketing Coordinator / Ops Manager Nashville, Tennessee

I choose to celebrate all the fellow women in my office and throughout AY.

Shane Bowen

Senior Associate, Retail Services Nashville, Tennessee

I chose to celebrate the power of women to affect every aspect of life.

Jayne McColl

Principal & Global Chief of Staff Calgary, Canada

I choose to celebrate the success of all women, let's use our voices to support each other.

Sarah Finnegan

Graduate Surveyor Dublin, Ireland

I #ChooseToChallenge myself to speak up more and use my voice, and to encourage other women in my workplace and life to do so.

Rob Foss

Senior VP, Retail & Mixed Use Nashville, Tennessee

Be determined, creative and teachable.

Kenzie Kohl

Sales Representative, Retail Leasing Toronto, Canada

I choose to celebrate those amazing female mentors and role models who make it their mission to help young female professionals.

Claire Paraskeva

Regional Managing Director, Principal, Business Rates Leeds, U.K.

Women as a whole need to take charge of their own destiny and they will overcome any barrier.

Peyton Doster

Marketing Coordinator Nashville, Tennessee

I challenge everyone to support a charity that focuses on empowering young girls in order to help raise the next generation of strong women!

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