CREW Network CEO Gail Ayers tells us that, at this late stage of her career, it’s shocking that she’s still talking about equal opportunity for women. She adds that women have made terrific strides in the industry, but are still underrepresented at the executive management levels. Women have too much talent to be sitting on the sidelines, and research shows that companies with more diverse leadership teams perform better. The organization was founded to further professional women in the commercial real estate industry and currently engages more than 9,000 members through networking, education and outreach. Gail says the organization is becoming global, just like the industry itself, as foreign investors want to get to know American real estate professionals. The 2015 CREW Network Convention and Marketplace takes place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 in Bellevue, WA, featuring keynote speaker Madeleine Albright and offering networking, education and insight for both men and women. For more information on our Bisnow partner, click here. More about the event here.