Voice of Experience: Annemarie G. DiCola, CEO of Trepp LLC

“I don’t like the word balance,” Annemarie DiCola said, when asked how she balances her career and personal life. “It implies a perfect symmetry.”

Annemarie DiCola is the Chief Executive Officer of Trepp LLC, a leading technology company in the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) sector. Ms. DiCola began her career in law after she earned her degree at New York University Law School and worked at a private law firm. Due to some unexpected twists and turns in her career, she found herself at Trepp.

As a leading voice in the CMBS sector, she has served as the first female president of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association. She was also a founding member of the CMSA’s Board of Governors and the Editor-in-Chief of their electronic publication, CMBS E-Primer.

In June 2005, Ms. DiCola was awarded the CMSA Founder’s Award in recognition for her contributions to the industry. In 2006, she was honored with the “Highest Leaf Award” of the Women’s Venture Fund, for her entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated ability as a role model for women.

With all of these accolades under her belt, Ms. DiCola still finds time for her personal life. “It’s not so much a balancing act,” she said. “Rather about the ebb and flow that exists throughout the day.”

She prefers to ask herself, “does your life feel in harmony? Do you know what you need to get done and understand what you need to do to stay in harmony?” She explained that she fine-tunes her daily activities as if she were fine-tuning a guitar.

“It all has to hit the right note,” she said.

The right note. Harmony. The ebb and flow of the day. These are the creative thoughts of someone who sees the scene without a frame. Her accomplishments prove she is gutsy, confident and not afraid to take chances. In that regard, experiences can help to inform many women starting out in professional careers.

The Glass Hammer asked Ms. DiCola for a few more pointers and words of wisdom for this Voice of Experience interview.

1. You were appointed Chief Executive Officer of Trepp in April 2005, a position that you continue to hold. How did you get where you are today?
   When I graduated from law school, I saw myself on a path towards becoming a partner in a private law firm. In the 1980’s, I was on track at a New York City firm in the commercial real estate sector. Then, I was assigned to work as a legal consultant for Trepp. In 1990, I left the law firm and went to work for Trepp as the in-house Chief Legal and Administrative Officer. From there, I worked on many different aspects of the business, including software licensing and consulting contracts, and gained insight into their marketing strategy. I also had the opportunity to work with their sales team.
   I found that I enjoyed working in-house more than I did when I was consulting at Trepp. I had more of an opportunity to understand and assess their business strategies as in house staff.
2. Tell us about a past success or failure that has helped you grow professionally.
   Before I joined Trepp, I was working at a law firm that was experiencing financial difficulties. With experience in commercial real estate, I instinctively started looking for jobs at other law firms in that practice area. It was a challenging time, because the market was experiencing a real estate recession. Without much luck, I switched my strategy and started marketing myself as a bankruptcy associate looking for a three year position. I was confident and gutsy. While I got the offer, it came around the time that the Trepp opportunity presented itself. It was a terrible time but it was the best time too. It forced me to think differently and made me recognize that I wanted something different. It also taught me that even in a terrible market; I was able to find a job.
   You know when you have already fallen off the cliff, you aren’t afraid to fall.
3. Do you have advice for young women working towards professional goals?
   First off, it is important to find a mentor. With a need for more powerful women in the industry, it’s okay to a pick a male mentor. Just make sure they are smart and influential in the industry. Also, get involved with industry organizations. They enhance your position and allow you to bring added strengths to your job. Another recommendation is to always keep an open mind about different possibilities. When I started out at a private law firm, I never could have imagined the path I would end up taking. Don’t rigidly stick to your game plan. Embrace change, it could make a big difference. Also, let go of the idea that every little thing needs to get done. This is where delegation comes into play. If you delegate the detailed work, you are able to focus on the big and important things –like the vision of the company and the business strategy.
4. How do you stay organized?
   I take a few hours a week to make a list of everything I need to accomplish. I look at the biggest challenge of the week and the most important. I ask myself how each task is helping me achieve my goal while staying in harmony. As I have gotten older, the lists have gotten shorter. You only do the most important things yourself, the rest you delegate.
5. What is your favorite book?
   It is called The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, by Samuel Johnson. It was written in 1759. The message of the book is to work with the hand you are dealt with. It is up to you to be happy so amplify what you are doing.

In January 2008, Annemarie DiCola was recognized by the National Organization of Italian American Women with the Three Wise Women award for her ability to combat ethnic stereotypes and promote a positive role model for Italian American women. Looking forward, Ms. DiCola wants to see more equality in boardrooms. While she believes women have made advancements, she knows that we have just scratched the surface of what we can do, and more can be done. The Glass Hammer supports Ms. DiCola’s work and look forward to hearing about her future accomplishments.