We’re proud to continue our Pace Common Ground campaign for Gender Equality! This time, we salute another pioneering woman in real estate: Colleen Wenke. Colleen is Senior Vice President, Head of Development and Construction at Taconic Investment Partners. Since beginning her career at Taconic in 2001, she has been responsible for or directly involved in developing or repositioning over 2 million square feet of commercial space. And like all of our Common Ground women, Colleen has paved a successful path for so many others to follow.
Colleen Wenke
Colleen Wenke, Senior Vice President, Head of Development and Construction at Taconic Investment Partners
Taconic Investment Partners is a fully integrated owner, operator, and developer of commercial and residential real estate. Since 1997, Taconic has successfully acquired, developed, redeveloped, and repositioned over 12 million square feet of office, mixed-use, and retail space and more than 4,688 units of for-sale and multi-family housing, with a focus in New York City. In her role at Taconic, Colleen is responsible for asset management, construction, and development projects. Her responsibilities include project management, design development, contract negotiations, portfolio strategy, marketing, leasing, and sales. Colleen earned her Master of Science in real estate with a dual concentration in finance and development from New York University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Boston College. She is an active member of the New York Building Congress, Professional Women in Construction, the Young Real Estate Professionals of New York, and the Advisory Board of New York University’s Schack Institute of Construction Management.
What a pleasure to chat with Colleen for our Common Ground campaign. We were impressed to hear about her career, her role models, and her advice and encouragement for other women. Take a few moments to watch any or all of her featured videos below.
How did you get your start in the industry?
Do you have any role models in the industry, or someone who influenced you in a significant way in the field?
What are some obstacles or challenges you faced along the way on your career path?
In what ways do you think gender inequality impacts women in your field?
So, have you seen changes in gender equality since you started in the field?
How do you think we can maintain the momentum of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements and conversations, especially within your industry?
What are some milestones or achievements you can share from your career?
Is there something you would still like to accomplish in your career?
What advice would you give to women who may be starting out, trying to break in, or trying to advance in the field?
Last question, on a more lighthearted note: what’s the last great book you read or show you binged?
Thanks to Colleen for sharing her experience, her unique perspective and insights, and her encouraging words and advice. We are proud to feature her as part of our Pace Common Ground Trailblazers series. Here’s to every achievement earned, every milestone passed, and every glass ceiling shattered!