Richmond, VA – December 20, 2023

This month marks Aleksandra Harcum‘s 15th year with Commonwealth Commercial Partners, LLC.

As our Chief Financial Officer, Aleksandra (“Ola”) manages the strategic financial oversight for the company and is a key member of our executive leadership team. In her 15 years with CCP, she has worked in a variety of capacities, first as a financial analyst, then as VP of Finance (Asset Management), and now as CFO.

And, as if we didn’t already know how great she is, Ola was named a finalist for 2023 CFO of the Year by Virginia Business.

Get to know Ola — how she came to join us at CCP, her advice for women in the industry, and what she enjoys doing outside of work — in the conversation below.

Tell us a little bit about your background; where you’re from originally, what brought you to the U.S., and how you ended up in your career today.

AH: I was born and raised in Poland. I graduated from the University of Economics in Wroclaw, Poland with a Master’s Degree in Economics and a minor in Econometrics. My older sister moved to the U.S. for a few years while I was in college, so during my fourth year I decided to join her for a summer in the States through a program called “Work and Travel.” It allowed me to gain work experience abroad while also exploring new parts of the world I hadn’t been to before.

After finishing my degree in 2005, I was fortunate to begin my career here in Richmond, first working in hospitality at a local hotel, and then as a financial analyst for a small local company. Commonwealth Commercial was actually providing us with property management services, so I started working with Ken Strickler in early 2007, and then was brought on to the CCP team in 2008. I began as a financial analyst, then VP of Finance (Asset Management), and am now proud to be CFO, overseeing all financials for the company.

What does your current team look like at Commonwealth Commercial?

AH: We have a pretty robust accounting and lease administration department — not all commercial real estate companies have lease administration. We have a team specifically dedicated to that part of our business, and we find that it really adds to our skill set and the services we can provide to our clients. We have five individuals on the corporate accounting side, then about 30 within the accounting and lease administration team. IT and human resources are also under my umbrella.

Commercial Real Estate and Finance both tend to be male-dominated industries. Can you speak to what it’s like being a woman in these spaces and any advice you have for other women who might be in similar situations?

AH: Excelling in your career can be a challenge for women across the globe, be it Poland or the U.S., or elsewhere. As women, we constantly feel the need to prove ourselves, and being from another country, this has often felt doubly important for me. I am so grateful for my company; CCP is inclusive and works hard to support the success of women in their careers. We are encouraged to participate in organizations like CREW Richmond for mentorship and community. Expanding your interests and seeking out those support spaces is crucial.

What kinds of trends are you seeing in the CRE marketplace today, and how are those trends impacting your decisions as CFO?

AH: It’s no secret that general market conditions today are challenging. Higher interest rates, higher cost of labor, higher cost of materials — all of these factors are impacting every area of our business, from asset management to construction to lodging. Overall, our approach is to remain conservative about our reserves and double down on business development so that we’re able to continue growing. When looking at our company’s history, we’ve often managed to grow in a downturn. We’re working hard to be able to do the same over the course of the next few years.

We’re seeing a rise in artificial intelligence (AI) across industries today. How do you see AI applying to your work or how might you look to incorporate it in the future?

AH: We’ve been talking a lot about AI internally and with our legal team, exploring ways we will be able to incorporate it in the coming months and years. The challenge is how new these products are; we don’t want to jump in prematurely and make any mistakes that could compromise the security of clients or our company. We also want to ensure we’re keeping that personal, human touch CCP is known for. We’re approaching AI and other emerging technologies with enthusiasm, but still remaining cautious.

What can we find you doing outside of work?

AH: I play volleyball at Richmond Volleyball Club on both a women’s team and a coed team. It’s a great way to build relationships — there are CFOs, construction workers, nurses, and so many different types of people who participate, so you get to meet friends you may not have otherwise come to know. I love to run and started yoga in the last two years. I also love to make things – woodworking, and sewing. My grandmother and aunt were both seamstresses and taught me how to use a sewing machine. It must run in the family as my mother, who was a banker by profession, also enjoyed doing all kinds of crafty things in her spare time.

About Commonwealth Commercial Partners, LLC
Commonwealth Commercial Partners (CCP) is a leading full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia with offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbus, Greenville, Hampton Roads, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Nashville, Norfolk, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Tampa. CCP has expertise in Commercial Sales & Leasing, Property & Asset Management, Construction Management, Hospitality Management, Project Management, Land Sales, and Forestry Consulting.