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NIRI Los Angeles Member Spotlight: Samantha Greening - Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations, Macerich
How Samantha got started in IRā¦
My journey to Investor Relations was not traditional, but it showcases the adaptability often required in this field. I started my career with Macerich about 12 years ago in Dallas, Texas, as a leasing assistant while attending business school at night. Once I graduated, I was offered a position on our Corporate Marketing team in Phoenix, Arizona. A few years later, I was asked to relocate to our DC area office to build our business development team media trafficking system. A few years after that, I was offered a position back in Phoenix in Corporate Marketing on our B2B team (round 2!). And a few years after that, I found myself in LA accepting a position to replace our IRO, who had held the position for 19 years. Once I overcame the confusion of why they wanted a person with a marketing and communications background to revamp the IR program, I began to appreciate the experience I had gained by moving to new cities, adjusting to new offices, and collaborating with different departments.
On adapting to changeā¦
We recently experienced a significant change in senior management, which created external and internal uncertainty within the investment community and among employees. This change led to a period of increased communication to reassure both our investors and our team. While I didnāt have all the answers at first (or couldnāt disclose information), I learned that saying āI donāt knowā is sometimes the most appropriate and transparent answerāas long as you follow up once you know the answer!
On finding balanceā¦
As we all know, earnings season can be time-consuming, and hybrid work can seem like thereās never an off switchāespecially when the markets open at 6:30 a.m. Pacific. Over the years, I have realized that I can only worry about (easier said than done!) or focus on what is within my control. That means my work product, how I react to unexpected challenges or conflicts, and how I manage my time to ensure I still have personal time during these intense periods. Prioritizing tasks to those I can complete myself so that no one is waiting on my portion or response, not getting caught up in workplace drama or gossip, and taking short breaks regularly by walking to the kitchen to fill my water bottle, stretching at my desk, or simple breathing exercises all help reduce tension and stress.
I also prioritize and maximize time away. I enjoy experiencing new cities, cultures, and food, so whether itās trying a new restaurant during one of the many work trips to New York, extending a trip through the weekend to visit with friends, or planning a birthday trip out of the country (after earnings, of course. Q2 earnings always fall on my birthday week!) and taking my laptop to stay connected, I appreciate the time and ability to get out of the office.
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