Board Member Spotlight: Anita Arora

Sunday, Dec 20, 2020

Anita

 

Anita Arora currently serves on the CREW Calgary Board as Treasurer.  She is the Vice President, Assets and Finance at Mancal Properties, a privately-owned real estate company.  In June, she reached a milestone of 20 years with the company, in various roles, starting in the corporate accounting group and moving to the real estate group.  The group owns and manages over 2.1 million square feet of commercial industrial properties in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

1. What do you enjoy most about working in the Commercial Real Estate Industry? 

When I tell someone that I work in real estate, they immediately assume that I am a residential real estate agent.  CRE is so much more than that.  It is comprised of a diverse group of well-educated professionals designing, developing, investing in, and managing places that you work, shop and play.  I work for a company that has invested capital in a portfolio of diverse properties that has cycled from dirt to value creation, to growth and in some cases, monetization.  Managing the financial and strategic elements to drive overall return and long-term growth requires so many things to come together.  Property management involves day-to-day management, asset management involves month-to-month management and portfolio management involves quarter-to-quarter management.  There is never a dull moment.

2. How has CREW brought value to your career ?

Attending CREW events pushed me out of my comfort zone to network with a group of well accomplished, like-minded women working in the Commercial Real Estate industry.  Topics and tours were always relevant and gave sneak-peaks of new real estate in the market before the mass public were invited.  Relationships that formed from those events brought work connections and encouragement to join the Board and create even deeper confidence in my abilities in this industry. 

3. What are three reasons you would encourage a colleague to join CREW?

CREW’s members are inspirational when you meet and talk to them about the roles they hold in the Commercial Real Estate Industry.  CREW offers networking opportunities where you genuinely enjoy being in the company of their members.  And of course, the food and wine (does that count as three or four reasons?) at the forward-thinking events is encouragement enough. 

4. How are you positively adapting to the work-from-home and work/life challenges presented by COVID-19 measures?

I’ve had to adapt to better use technology and become virtual meeting savvy.  Luckily my 12-year-old was around to help, especially with phone and laptop settings.  I was also someone that would never buy anything if I couldn’t physically see and touch it first.  During the lock-down, I braved on-line shopping and became accustomed to being on the lookout for the delivery trucks from my home office. 

5. Share an interesting or little-known fact about yourself?

I was born and raised in Calgary and take full advantage of having majestic mountains in my backyard.  I love being out there to hike, bike, ski or even to just go on a drive.  If I had to choose between being on a beach or a mountain, the peaks will always win.