CREW Up: Mentorship Isn’t Enough: The Case for Sponsorship in CRE

March 26, 2026

CREW Network’s CEO Alison Beddard joins CPE's Laura Valean to discuss what it'll take to create real pathways to leadership for women in the industry.

While gains have been made in areas like pay equity and flexibility, the commercial real estate industry continues to stall where it matters most: advancement. Women now represent roughly 38 percent of the workforce, a figure that has remained largely unchanged for two decades, according to CREW Network’s latest benchmark study. The issue, believes CEO Alison Beddard, is not pipeline, but structure.

In this episode of CREW Up, Commercial Property Executive Senior Editor Laura Valean sits down with Beddard for an open conversation about both progress and persistent gaps for women in commercial real estate.

One of the most striking takeaways is Beddard’s distinction between mentorship and sponsorship in CRE. “Mentorship gives advice, but sponsorship gives opportunity,” she noted, pointing to the critical role of advocates who actively create pathways into leadership. Without that, progress slows, regardless of intent.

Beddard remains clear-eyed about what needs to happen next: Progress must be measured, intentional and tied to real outcomes. As she puts it, “if equity isn’t measured, it’s optional.”

The discussion also explores the realities shaping today’s workforce, from hybrid work and proximity bias to shifting attitudes toward the C-suite.

For industry leaders and organizations looking to retain and advance talent, this episode offers both perspective and a call to action, grounded in data and driven by real-world experience.

Here’s what you’ll hear when you press play: