Marina Sheykman
“Take initiative, view challenges as opportunities. Also, often, and early find mentors with whom you can discuss your career trajectory.”
#WomenWhoBuild meet Marina Sheykman,
Marina is an Assistant Property Manager with L&L Holding Company with over 10 years of experience. Prior to her time at L&L Holding Company, Marina worked as a cost engineer and field operations manager for Skanska on The Moynihan Train Hall in New York City. ArchNative sat down with Marina to discuss her introduction to the field, how her background in finance supports her current role, and what her day to day looks like.
What was your first introduction to real estate? Can you recall the moment when you realized that this was the field you wanted to pursue career-wise?
I started my career in finance and transitioned to construction operations. A decade of experience in both fields encouraged me to face challenges head-on. Construction and real estate are closely related, so while working in construction I had opportunities to meet many real estate professionals.
I am grateful that I was part of a world-class project called The Moynihan Train Hall in NYC, an iconic state-of-the-art transit hub. I worked alongside renowned architects, engineers, safety, project managers, consultants, and contractors. During that time, I had a chance to collaborate with the property manager coordinating operations and logistics which made me realize how much I enjoyed that type of work. I realized that the skills I had developed early on were directly transferable to the Property Management domain. That enticed me to pursue a new role and begin a career in Property Management.
You started your career in finance at Goldman Sachs. Did any of those skills translate into your career in real estate and property management in particular?
My experience at Goldman Sachs was enriching. The people I had an opportunity to work with and learn from were world-class leaders. The firm's culture really made an impact on molding my perspective.The core values at Goldman Sachs are Client Service, Excellence, Integrity, and Partnership. The skills and values I built upon during my time at Goldman Sachs were transferable to both the Construction and Commercial Real Estate industries.
You are an Assistant Property Manager for L&L Holding Company. Can you tell us a little bit about this position? What does your day-to-day look like?
As an Assistant Property Manager, I oversee the property and building systems and am fortunate to do so alongside a 30-year veteran Property Manager. I am grateful to benefit daily from his wealth of technical and industry knowledge and expertise. Some of my daily responsibilities include tending to the needs of tenants, supervising our facilities contractors, and arranging for building maintenance. Additionally, I am charged with collaborating with architects and engineers on interior tenant fit-outs and improvements. I often reflect and am humbled by the unique opportunity to have a business impact through my work with operations, leasing, and accounting departments.
Brooklyn Health Center
Prior to L&L Holding Company, you had worked for Skanska, a construction manager, as a cost engineer and a field operations manager. Can you tell us a little bit about these two positions and what pushed you to switch from the construction side of the business to the Owner's side?
I embraced each opportunity that came along at Skanska until I had to pave a new path. I cultivated a diverse set of skills and experience by working with some of the best and brightest in the business.
As a cost engineer, I was responsible for budgeting and forecasting for a $120M health facility. I applied my problem-solving and analytical skills to mitigate risk and utilized my negotiation skills when working with our procurement department. Through experience with the commercial business aspects, I made the decision to pivot to a more complex role with increased leadership responsibilities.
As a Field Operations Manager, I built and maintained relationships with project stakeholders, including the owner, client, program manager, architect, and sponsors. I was able to resolve issues in a fast-paced environment and served as a liaison for building tenants. These experiences prepared me to transition to the Commercial Real Estate industry and are an integral part of my career in Property Management.
How do you ensure that you are constantly learning and growing in your career?
I enjoy new learning opportunities and roles that stretch my potential through unfamiliar and challenging experiences. I believe in a more sustainable environment and am excited to be working on the Local Law 97 compliance program, one of the most ambitious plans for reducing GHG emissions in the nation. I found a new area of interest that I didn’t previously know much about and decided to dive deep into learning more about sustainability in my industry. As I learned more, through a variety of certifications and volunteer work it became a subject that I am passionate about. The other exciting part is that sustainability is an important component of our company vision. I hope that as I strive to learn more about this I can simultaneously help bring value to our clients and partners.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone considering real estate as their career path?
Take initiative, view challenges as opportunities. Also, often, and early find mentors with whom you can discuss your career trajectory.