Pacific Coast Business Times: Retail specialist hits goals for Radius-Hagelis

Now a 15-year veteran of Southern California’s competitive commercial real estate industry, Lisa Shields said she’s succeeded in a male-heavy trade thanks to close relationships and her years at Stanford, both in the classroom and on the playing fields.

“It’s hard to break into the industry, especially for women,” said Shields, whose dad was a broker at CBRE. “But women bring diversity to the industry with a fresh perspective, which is important to any business.”

Shields is a senior associate with Radius-Hagelis Retail Advisors, a division of Radius Commercial Real Estate. She said her years at Stanford University, where she played for the women’s soccer team, taught her valuable lessons on what it takes to win.

“Being a (NCAA) Division I athlete was the most intense time of my life,” Shields said. “It helped me survive this industry. It made me a team player, have great communication skills, and I like working with others.”

Shields came to Radius in 2016, when she was a broker with the Hagelis Group, later acquired by Radius. Prior to that, she was an associate at CBRE’s Ventura County office.

Shields said she credits both CBRE and Linda Hagelis, senior vice president at Radius-Hagelis and a West Ventura CRE retail veteran.

“Linda is my sounding board, and I learned a lot at CBRE,” Shields said. “I’ve surrounded myself with successful brokers who want me to succeed.”

Shields represents both tenants and landlords in retail leases. Her clients include companies such as Investec, Dignity Health, Shea Properties, Carl’s Jr. and Blaze Pizza.

Even now, as the Tri-Counties, United States  and the world face an unprecedented pandemic, Shields continues to close deals from home, currently working through a few escrows and leases. She said she and her team are remaining positive through the trying times, and hopes once the initial dust settles to start seeing things going back to somewhat normal.

“I think this week is emotional. The next few weeks, businesses will start looking at the numbers, and will have a more logical approach. But there’s still so much unknown.”

The coronavirus isn’t the only change Shields has to face. As a retail broker, she’s endured a shift in her market space, with more consumers turning to online shopping more than ever. And with huge retail anchors like Sears and Macy’s beginning to shut down stores, Shields noticed she’s seen businesses slowly evolving along with the industry. She said it’s started to push companies to use more technology, and retail spaces are beginning to open up in the same locations and, to get closer to its customers, businesses are now looking at multifamily and mixed-use properties.

Outside of work, Shields is a member of the International Council for Shopping Centers and is a volunteer for Women’s Economic Ventures. But it’s Shields’ passion for her day-to-day with Radius, and her hardworking, personal approach that she said made her a successful commercial broker.

“What’s helped me is I take my career very seriously, and I’m very thorough,” she said. “It’s not just about the deal, it’s about the relationship.”