Jennifer Schillaci is the chief investment officer of Manulife US Real Estate Management Pte. Ltd., which manages the publicly listed Singapore- based Manulife US REIT. Manulife US REIT’s principal investment strategy is to invest, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of income-producing office real estate in key markets in the United States, as well as in real estate-related assets. Schillaci is responsible for executing the invest- ment program and providing direction to the real estate asset management, portfolio manage- ment, and acquisition teams in the U.S.

Why did you become a CFA charterholder?

The CFA designation is the gold standard of the finance industry—not just in Toronto, but globally. It opens doors and instills the holder with a robust financial knowledge and the ability to successfully complete challenging and stressful exams. Based on the clear advantages, it was not really a decision. If you’re going into finance, you need to have your CFA designation.

How has the CFA designation, and the knowledge you’ve gained through completing the program, helped you in your career?

The CFA designation opens doors. Many job op- portunities are just not available unless you have it. The CFA designation also provides a broad understanding of an extensive range of financial topics, something I’ve found very useful through- out my career as I’ve pursued opportunities in various asset classes. The learning continues after you finish the exams; between the wide variety of seminars and conferences held by CFA Society Toronto and the CFA Institute, there are many opportunities to keep your knowledge base up to date, especially in an ever-evolving market environment. The seminars and conferences also provide excellent networking opportunities.

You were one of the first participants in the Alpha Project. Describe the experience and what you learned.

The Alpha Project was an inaugural two-year program for CFA Society Toronto female volunteers. It was designed to develop new skills, provide recognition as emerging leaders, and create mentorship relationships with top CFA charter- holder executives. A small group of women were selected to participate in this first-of-its-kind pilot program. The industry is doing a better job at achieving gender equality in entry-level positions, but after about 10 years of experience, the number of women in profit and loss positions drops dra- matically, with extremely small representation at the C-suite level. This program was targeted at keeping mid-career women with potential in the game. Commercial real estate investment is still very much dominated by men, and I often find myself being the only woman in the room. It was refreshing to be introduced to a group of talented, accomplished women midway through their careers and on their way up the corporate ladder. These women were from diverse industries and would have been impossible to connect with on my own. The Alpha Project gave us a forum where we could speak freely about the opportunities and challenges of the workplace—some gender- specific issues and some not. We also had the opportunity to work with the best executive coach in the city, as well as being paired up with a mentor. Their candid (and sometimes hard-to- hear) advice was invaluable. Although the Alpha Project has ended, our group still gets together to provide a critical ear and support, and to bounce ideas off one another.

What books have most influenced your work and outlook?

Hands down, the book I would recommend to everyone is Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends & Influence People. Being able to work with different types of people and personalities is mandatory to advance in this business, and this book is a how- to guide. I would also recommend Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois Frankel for those just starting out. It was an eye-opening read about image, influence, and communication styles that can hold women back in the workplace. It’s all the advice that most people are too polite to tell you.

What’s some of the best advice you’ve received in your career?

Just do it. Take initiative, stretch yourself to try new assignments, and don’t be afraid to bite off more than you think you can chew. You will surprise yourself at what you can accomplish.

How do you give back?

I have benefited immensely from mentors in my career, and make a concerted effort to pay it forward. Whether it be a mentoring program through the University of Toronto or Manulife, or a casual cup of coffee, I always make time to talk to younger people about the industry, their career paths, and how to challenge themselves.