Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History—
It’s Women’s History Month, and while we take time to celebrate the pioneers who came before us—let’s also talk about the women making history right now.
Women who aren’t waiting for permission. Women who are building platforms, companies, and communities. Women who are tired of being the “only one in the room”—and doing something about it.
Let’s talk about Allison S. Weiss.
Let’s talk about Women Speak CRE.
Let’s talk about what it means to be a Power Beacon.
And let’s talk about what happens when women in commercial real estate decide to stop behaving.
From Frustration to Foundation: The Birth of Women Speak CRE
A few months ago, I posted on LinkedIn—raw and direct. I had just returned from a national commercial real estate summit where I was the only woman on stage. Out of 20 speakers and panelists, I was the one and only female voice.
Let that sink in. One out of 20.
It’s not a new story. It’s one we’ve all lived through.
But this time, someone didn’t just nod along and agree it was frustrating.
Allison Weiss turned it into a movement.
Within 90 days, she launched Women Speak CRE—a first-of-its-kind platform designed to amplify women’s voices on stage, on panels, on podcasts, in print, and beyond.
The idea is simple: If you’re a woman in commercial real estate who is willing to speak, raise your hand. Go to the website. Add your name. Claim your voice.
Because visibility matters. Representation matters. And women shouldn’t have to wait to be “invited” to the mic.
Commercial Real Estate Has a Representation Problem
Let’s not sugarcoat it—CRE is still a male-dominated industry.
The speaker lineups. The panel rosters. The board rooms. The power tables.
Even now, in 2025, we still see too many “manels” (all-male panels). We still hear “we tried to find a woman speaker, but couldn’t.” We still see talented, brilliant women being passed over for the same three men recycled on every panel.
This isn’t about tokenism. It’s about changing the face of leadership in real estate, finance, development, construction, and proptech.
That starts with visibility.
And that’s why Women Speak CRE is a game changer.
As a founding Advisory Board member, I can tell you: this isn’t a side project. This is a full-blown initiative built for national impact. We’re making it easy for conferences, media, and organizations to find qualified, ready, and damn powerful women speakers in commercial real estate.
What’s a Power Beacon?
In 2022, a handful of us gathered in my Beck-Reit Commercial Real Estate offices in East Austin. Women from across the country. Different markets, different roles—but the same fire in our belly.
We were brokers, investors, proptech founders, journalists, content creators, developers, and high-level decision-makers. And we had one thing in common:
We weren’t waiting to be asked anymore. We were ready to speak.
But we also recognized that not every woman has that same freedom—yet.
Some work for big brokerages that frown on public commentary. Others are earlier in their careers, trying to find their footing. Some just haven’t been handed the mic yet.
So we made a pact.
The women who can speak publicly—must speak publicly.
For the women who can’t, yet.
We named ourselves the #PowerBeacons.
We are the lighthouse.
We are the signal.
We are the voice cutting through the fog.
We raise awareness. We raise hell. We raise each other.
Why I Speak Loudly—and Why You Should Too
I don’t just speak at events—I command stages.
I’ve spoken on panels, keynoted conferences, and been quoted in national publications. Not because I’m looking for applause, but because the industry needs louder women with louder voices telling the truth, sharing experience, and changing narratives.
I built my own commercial brokerage from the ground up. I’ve developed projects, owned assets, and led construction teams. I’ve walked dirt lots and board rooms. I didn’t come up through legacy firms—I built one.
And when you’ve done the work, you don’t stay silent about it.
You share. You mentor. You educate. You fight for better.
Because if we don’t raise our voices in commercial real estate, who will?
Allison Weiss: Power Beacon of the Year 2025
Let me say it loud and clear: Allison Weiss is the 2025 Power Beacon of the Year.
She didn’t just talk about the lack of representation—she fixed it.
She didn’t just post a comment—she built a platform.
She didn’t wait for someone else to solve the problem—she became the solution.
In just three months, she created something real. Something scalable. Something lasting. And she did it publicly, boldly, and with zero fear.
That’s what a Power Beacon does. That’s how change happens.
Want to Change the Ratio? Get on the List.
Are you a woman in commercial real estate with something to say?
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been on stage before.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been asked.
Put your name down. Declare your voice. Own your seat.
Because the more names on that list, the louder the message becomes:
Women in CRE aren’t a rarity. We’re a force. And we’re ready.
The Movement is Just Getting Started
Follow #PowerBeacons to stay in the loop on all of our initiatives—especially our Conference Safety Message, which raised national awareness last year and is getting a powerful 2025 update.
We don’t just shine the light—we protect it.
Let’s Raise a Glass
To the women building platforms.
To the women building portfolios.
To the women building legacy.