March 8th is International Women’s Day, a time to recognize the social and economic achievements of women across the world. In celebration, Cranson Capital’s Antonella Brogno-Miceli, connects with influential women in leadership to discuss the opportunities and challenges faced in their careers in this interview mini-series.

Robyn Rabinowitz holds the office of Vice President of Development for Plazacorp. For several decades, Plazacorp has invested in land development, driving innovation across Ontario. For Plazacorp, Robyn leads development and planning initiatives including matters relating to land acquisition, municipal development approvals and permits, condominium registration and more. Outside of work, Robyn is a member of Lambda Alpha International Land Economics Society and Urban Land Institute, and frequent Guest Lecturer in the University of Toronto Masters in Planning Program.

ABM: Why did you choose to work in development?

RR: My dad is a (retired) real estate lawyer, my brother is an architect, it was just natural. I was always interested in housing, urban affairs, and I studied Urban Planning in graduate school at U of T. My family’s been in Toronto for 100 years, I’m a proud Torontonian, it’s a great city with a lot to offer and has changed so much. It’s been fascinating for me to watch how the city has evolved over the last 20 years, and to know that, even in a small way, I was a part of that growth. Also, there’s a great satisfaction that comes with building homes for people, it’s very rewarding to see a project through the development process and know that at the end of the day we’re providing homes for people and for families.

ABM: Who is your biggest inspiration?

RR: I couldn’t name just one person. I’ve worked with a lot of smart, influential real estate executives, men and women, and I’ve been in inspired by many. Everyone has their own style of doing business, but I’ve been most inspired by those with a common drive to work hard, get results, think critically, ask questions and lead with confidence. I feel fortunate to say I’ve had a lot of great mentors who believed in me.

ABM: What is your proudest career moment, or best decision you made in your career?

RR: The best decision I’ve ever made was trusting myself to take a chance. I joined Plazacorp at a time when I really didn’t know that it was a change I needed to make. I trusted my instincts and it was the best move I could have made to further my career and for my own personal growth.

ABM: What is one piece of advice you would give to a young woman starting out in the development industry?

RR: There’s a lot of advice I’d give to someone who wants to work hard and be successful and it would translate to not only those in the development industry: be willing to pound the pavement and put in the time to develop the skills and knowledge you need to progress in your career. Get involved, continue learning and advocate for yourself. Be open to new situations and different tasks. After 20 years, I still learn new things every day. In the context of land use planning in the Province of Ontario and in the city, it’s everchanging and will continue to change. I’ve seen development projects and approvals become more complex over time and you need to keep yourself in the know. Know your city. Walk the site. Read the fine print.

ABM: What does the International Women’s Day Campaign #ChooseToChallenge mean to you?

RR: It’s an important campaign sending a strong message. I’ve seen opportunities for women in the development industry really change. When I was in grad school, my class of 25 was about 50% men and women. That ratio has changed and today the majority are women. One of my teachers from U of T, the chairman of a global development firm, invites me to come back in to the classroom to guest lecture not only about real estate development, but also because he sees a need for his mainly female students to experience positive female role models in an industry that was traditionally populated by men. It’s inspiring to demonstrate that there is a strong place for women in this industry to build their own meaningful careers.

ABM: On International Women’s Day, what is the most important message you want to share with young women?

RR: Choose to study and find a livelihood that is meaningful to you, work hard, create a network of people you want to be around and use your contacts. Seek out advice from others with experience and trust your instincts. You can do anything that you set your mind to.