Capitalizing on the Differences: That’s Where the Revenue Is

As a commercial real estate attorney, Cindy Campbell is committed to helping her clients get the deals they want. As a Black woman, she’s committed to increasing the diversity of her professional world. When she was my guest on The Crossman Conversation, she talked about how we can all bring a degree of activism into our day-to-day activities—and why it’s good business to do that.

You can’t argue with the reality that commercial real estate is a white dominated space. Cindy calls it “a huge bubble of just the same people that you meet all the time.” If you’re in that kind of bubble, you need to be willing to do two things: One, step outside your bubble and two, invite other people in.

“We have certain spaces where there’s not a lot of cross-pollinization, we’re not merging ecosystems,” Cindy said. “It’s almost like we’re self-segregating. We want to move away from that segregation and begin to homogenize, to come in and work together, collaborate together, and that’s when we’ll see the diversity that everyone wants to see.”

It not only makes sense from a social perspective, it also makes sense for business. “We need to learn to appreciate the differences, because if we’re talking about revenue, that’s where the revenue is—it’s in the difference of ideas and experiences,” she said.

Cindy earned her BS at the University of Central Florida and her JD at Florida A&M University College of Law, graduating magna cum laude. We talked about the experience of studying law at the most diverse law school in the United States—a school that graduates more Black lawyers each semester than all the other state law schools in Florida combined. And, as I often do with my guests, I asked Cindy what 60 hypothetical white middle-aged male CEOs need to hear.

“Take action,” she said. “Don’t just talk, don’t just throw your checkbooks at it. Walk the walk.”

Will you have to leave your comfort zone? Yes. Cindy said, “We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

After you listen to my conversation with Cindy Campbell, you’ll know what to do and be motivated to do it. Here’s the link:

https://www.theshepherdradio.com/podcasts/the-crossman-conversation/episode/s1e25-cindy-campbell-is-a-real-estate-attorney-with-a-heart-to-see-a-true-coming-together-in-her-profession/

You’ll also enjoy my conversation with Roberta Walton Johnson, another Black woman lawyer who is making a difference. Here’s that link:

https://www.theshepherdradio.com/podcasts/the-crossman-conversation/episode/s1e23-roberta-walton-johnson-joins-the-conversation-and-serves-as-general-counsel-to-the-orange-co-clerk/

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John Crossman is the founder of Crossman Career Builders, the host of The Crossman Conversation, and the author of Career Killers Career Builders. Check out Crossman Career Builders on YouTube. Connect with John on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.