Leah DiCarlo
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting some of our inspiring WLI members and getting their thoughts on leadership.
Hear from Leah DiCarlo, Development Director at Centric, below.
Summarize your current role within ULI and explain why WLI is important to you?
For the past three years, I have served as Co-Chair of the Young Leaders Group and on the ULI Management Committee. I love ULI because it is a mission-driven organization, and it has allowed me the opportunity to work alongside other members toward making a positive impact in our community. WLI is important because it allows the women in the industry to make valuable connections, and it supports the growth and elevation of women in a male-dominated industry.
What is your expertise? What services do you provide? What leads do you look for?
I currently lead business development for Centric. Centric is a general contractor, and we work with clients and trade partners to provide solutions, pricing, and cost options, and to oversee construction from concept to completion. I work on a wide range of project types and sizes, but what really gets me excited are unique challenges (we once put an airplane on a roof) and community impact projects (I want to help make our city a better place!). I look for interesting projects where we can maximize value for our clients by understanding their goals and providing better creative solutions. I love working with passionate, kind, fun people!
Please summarize your CRE career, and explain why you decided to work in the built environment.
I am trained as an architect and interior designer. Early in my career I focused on domestic and international high-profile sport, entertainment, theater, and mixed-use commercial developments, as well as the interior design of luxury hospitality spaces. For example, I led and supported the design and development of the concept master plan for the new NBA Chase Center, Office, and Retail Development in San Francisco. Local projects include leading the interior architecture and design of The Monarch Bar on the Country Club Plaza. More recently, I joined Centric and switched to the construction side, which has provided me with the opportunity to establish relationships and work within my local community, and has given me a well-rounded understanding of the industry. My creative side led me to want to study architecture and design, and my family has a long history of being in the real-estate and construction space.
Do you consider yourself a female leader? Please explain why.
Yes. As a member of Centric’s Leadership Team, I lead by conducting market research, developing relationships, and creating and executing new business strategies that ultimately influence the direction and efforts of our company as a whole. As a female on the team, I lead by making contributions using my unique female perspective. Studies have shown that companies with diverse executive teams are more likely to outperform on profitability and more likely to have superior value creation. I pride myself on being able to make contributions to our organization in this way.
Who is a female leader you admire and why?
There are many female leaders whom I admire, but I would like to recognize a friend and amazing leader, Robin Broder. Robin is currently a C-Suite executive at Henderson Engineers, which is a 900-person, $180MM engineering firm with 12 offices nationwide. Robin leads with passion, strength, and integrity, and she has fought hard in her career to get where she is. She is smart, kind, and dedicated, and she is always actively working to make her company the best that it can be. People within her company love working with her, as do clients and industry partners. She’s a role model and an inspiration to me and many others.
Describe what you do to remain visible in your career.
I feel I have a responsibility to remain visible and to continue doing everything I can to move the needle. Today women are 50% of the workforce. The thought of helping to pave the way for other women and create more equity in the workplace motivates me to work harder, to continue to learn and grow, and it encourages me to never give up.
What career advice can you share with others?
It is important to keep in mind that there are valuable lessons to be gained from every experience we have. Switching roles, jobs, or career paths can be scary, but in my experience, if you have the itch for a change you will not be satisfied unless you try. It’s important to remember that every new experience will bring you new perspective and increased understanding, and these things will offer you more certainty as you make future decisions.