Board of Director Spotlight - Meet Carla Barney

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Carla Barney

 

Carla Barney is currently a Branch Support & Development Specialist at Falkbuilt and brings more than 10 years of experience working in the commercial real estate sector, with a focus in property management and construction management. Although she’s no stranger to the CREW Network, we are pleased to welcome Carla back to CREW Calgary as part of the 2022 Board of Directors, Events Committee Board Liaison, and Chapter Champion for CREW Foundation. Get to know Carla below!

What drew you to join the CREW network and can you share a few things you have gained being part of the CREW Calgary Board of Directors?

I first joined CREW in 2012 – I was new to Calgary and relatively new in my career, so I prioritized growing my network through CREW and since day one, it has not disappointed. I joined the sponsorship committee as a new member right away and we were a small but mighty committee – there were just 3 of us at the time so it has been fascinating to look back on my experiences and see how far we have come as a chapter in Calgary since then. I moved on to chair the sponsorship committee for several years and really became invested in that role as it was so rewarding to be part of the sponsorship successes and committee growth.

Being part of the CREW Calgary Board has been very empowering. You are surrounded by women who share your common goals not only as individuals, but as part of CREW Network and CREW Foundation as well. Our Board really supports the mission statement – “CREW Network exists to transform the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally”. We stand with each other, and we’ve got your back because we strive to support our Board members, our network members and women in business in general. It has been a very educational experience for me as well. I’ve learned a lot about board organization and governance, while equally learning a lot about myself and how to grow and improve in my role as a Director.

What originally drew you towards property management and how did you get your start in the industry?

Originally from Newfoundland, I came to Alberta with a teaching degree but quickly realized that teaching wasn’t my true passion and I wanted to go into a more business focused career instead. I found a role at a third-party property management company, and I fell in love with the multiple facets of property management – construction, procurement, customer service, financials, etc. Every day was different, and it was such a dynamic sector. I focused on educating myself and through continued professional growth and educational experiences, I realized I was most captivated by the construction management part of my job. From there, I continued to learn and progress in my career but always made sure that construction management would remain a portion of any role I took on as it was the main constant piece that I loved.

As I moved out of property management and looked towards my next role, I wanted to be thoughtful and intentional about the change I was making. I wanted to be somewhere I could continue to use my skills and experience, but also somewhere the culture was exciting, dynamic, empowering, and forward-thinking. I reflected on the things I loved most about my career and construction management was still my most consistent answer, so the opportunity and culture at Falkbuilt aligned perfectly with my priorities.

If there is one piece of advice that has stuck with you throughout your career, what would it be?

Let your work speak for you. As women, we will always face challenges and judgement. CREW does an amazing job at working to remove these challenges and advance women in our industry, but it’s still our reality and so I value staying true to myself no matter what the situation is. I’ve been fortunate to work in some really amazing workplaces where I’ve felt welcomed and respected, but regardless of where I land, I always hold myself accountable to continuously grow and learn, to be a professional, and to let my work speak for me.

Outside of work, what are your hobbies and passions?

My health and fitness are most important to me. I prioritize making time for myself every day and am a firm believer that every woman should learn to give back to themself. For me, that often means an hour at the gym or going to a spin class as a form of self care. On the flip side, my true passion is food! On weekends, I love going to try new restaurants or cooking at home and having friends over for dinner. Just being able to take the time to enjoy a great meal is what brings me joy.

Do you have a book recommendation that you would like to share with CREW members?

The Leadership Challenge by Barry Posner and James Kouzes. I originally read this as part of a course requirement but have found that it has proven to become more and more useful as I’ve grown in my career. It’s a great read for anyone who is looking to move into a leadership role as it focuses on understanding what motivates people. I’m a people person by nature but being able to understand and identify what drives people, what brings them joy, what they value, etc. is an incredibly valuable skill to all types of leaders.