2022 Women in Commercial Real Estate: Jessica Morrissey, NEI General Contracting

What advice would you offer to women getting into the CRE industry?
Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Try a different role or take on a difficult project. So much growth can be achieved by striving to succeed at a difficult or new task/role. Ambition and willingness to learn goes a long way with your peers and career growth. Find a good mentor or mentors who will foster your growth by teaching, training, answering questions, and advocating for your success.

What has been your biggest challenge and how have you faced it?
Earlier in my carrier when I held an estimator position, I was met with “so you’re a girl and an estimator, how did that happen?” question. While I didn’t have a snappy come back, it shed light that there are still assumed gender roles in construction. I didn’t get discouraged by that comment, rather used it as fuel. It is important to be confident in your skills, and continue to learn and expand your knowledge base.