Originally on the pre-med track at Harvard, Mollie Fadule, a partner with Cephas Partners and a recipient of NAIOP’s 2016 Developing Leaders Award, realized that a change of course to real estate would be a better fit. She was involved with real estate from an early age through her family and was particularly drawn to the private equity side of the business. In the field of international private equity, she stands out not only for her age and gender but for the reputation she has developed as a strong and knowledgeable leader adept at finding innovative solutions to complex challenges.
Fadule co-founded and serves as a partner with Cephas Partners, an independent real estate investment and advisory firm providing management and strategic advice to investors and clients. In this role, she originated and underwrote a $180 million, 1.8-million-square-foot office complex in Dallas that was acquired by the Blackstone Group. Fadule previously served as vice president in the global real estate principal investments (REPI) group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In 2013, she started Fadule Properties, which invests in real estate in the Seattle area.
She has been a member of NAIOP Washington State for three years. In addition to her involvement with NAIOP, Fadule champions a variety of organizations supporting women in finance/real estate, working moms, women with breast cancer, underprivileged students and children. NAIOP caught up with Fadule to learn more about what drives this distinguished leader.
NAIOP: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job?
Fadule: The most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to interact with unique individuals across all facets of the industry and from various geographies and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I have developed numerous relationships with people that I would not otherwise encounter were it not for my career.
NAIOP: How has being a member of NAIOP helped your career?
NAIOP is a great place to meet industry leaders. Since the NAIOP events are so highly attended there is always the opportunity to meet new people and make new business contacts. Professional contacts that I have made through NAIOP have been very beneficial to my career. NAIOP is also actively involved in policy making which is an aspect of the business I was not very familiar with before joining the association.
NAIOP: What advice would you offer to other young professionals in commercial real estate?
Fadule: Take chances, fail, admit your failures and learn from them. One’s reaction, response and recovery from failure can be an incredibly powerful path to success.
NAIOP: Who has been an inspiring or influential figure in your life?
Fadule: My parents have always been my biggest supporters. My dad taught me about the real estate business and the value of hard work from a very young age. I often accompanied him to meetings and listened in on discussions and negotiations. I believe my exposure to the business as a young child fostered a deep appreciation of real estate for which I am incredibly thankful.
This is part of a series of profiles of NAIOP’s 2016 Developing Leaders Award recipients, who have distinguished themselves through exceptional commitment and contributions to the industry. This prestigious award was presented at NAIOP’s Commercial Real Estate Conference 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Watch this two-minute video to learn more about NAIOP’s Developing Leaders program. Applications are now open for the 2017 Developing Leaders Award. NAIOP Developing Leaders are invited to apply online for the award. The deadline for applications is Friday, June 23.
