Exec: How I Became the CEO of One of America's Largest Real Estate Firms

In The Boss, women share how they became successful and the lessons they learned along the way.

My first job as a teen was at a local department store in Long Island. Originally, I wanted the job so I could buy the latest fashions for a discount, but the experience taught me the value of money and how to interact with customers. Looking back, it set the stage for my career in real estate.

A few years later, I was working at a record store in Long Island. At the time, this was a great job.