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Kirsten Lee

Executive Vice President, Leasing

For Kirsten Lee, a career in retail real estate has required equal parts persistence, humor, and deal-making instinct.

If her career had a pop culture reference, she says it might be a mix of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Glengarry Glen Ross—with Reese Witherspoon in the starring role. “Coffee is for closers!”

Kirsten joined GGP early in her career with clear ambitions for where she wanted to go: “My younger self hoped I’d be exactly where I am today,” she says. “She would be very happy for older-Kirsten.”

One moment that helped clarify that path came when she began leading pitches as part of the company’s third-party management business: “When we started growing the third-party platform and pitches I led began turning into contracts with major shopping centers on the West Coast and Hawaii, I could see the path forward more clearly.”

Like many long careers in retail real estate, hers has also included moments that could only happen in this industry.

She recalls taking a New York retailer on a whirlwind, single-day tour of malls across Oklahoma—a trip that included a robbery scene at one property, a tornado warning that forced them to take cover in a ditch, a flat tire in rural Oklahoma, and a questionable steak dinner that ended with food poisoning.

“All in one day,” she says. “But we did get a deal out of that trip.”

Throughout her career, Kirsten has drawn inspiration from mentors and colleagues who helped shape her leadership style. Two pieces of advice from a mentor have especially stayed with her: “Drive with a smile” and “Hope is not a strategy.”

Kirsten also credits many women across the organization for helping her grow over the years—from early colleagues in the Dallas leasing office to trusted teammates and longtime collaborators across the business: “We’ve always lifted each other up. That support makes all the difference.”

Lorie Lisius

Senior General Manager, The Parks Mall at Arlington

After more than three decades with GGP, Lorie Lisius has seen both her career and her property evolve through many chapters.

If her career were a movie, she says it might resemble The Secret Life of Walter Mitty—a story about embracing change and discovering growth along the way.

“In my 35 years at GGP, I’ve moved from marketing manager to assistant general manager, associate general manager, and now senior general manager—all at the same property,” she says. “The mall has evolved over the years, and so have I.”

That perspective has shaped how she approaches leadership: “Early in my career, I thought I had to have all the answers. Over time I learned leadership is really about listening, collaborating, and lifting others up.”

One of her proudest accomplishments isn’t a single milestone, but the people she’s mentored along the way: “When I look back and see colleagues I’ve mentored grow into general managers, a regional manager, and even a vice president, it’s incredibly humbling.”

The foundation for those relationships remains simple advice she learned early in life: treat everyone with respect: “No matter their title, role, or tenure—kindness and integrity stand the test of time.”

Janell Vaughan

Vice President, Property Management

For Janell Vaughan, a career in retail real estate has been shaped by resilience and adaptability.

If she had to describe it, she says it might feel less like a movie and more like a game of musical chairs: “Every time the music stopped, I still had a seat. If pressed to name a film, she points to The Pursuit of Happyness—a story about perseverance, grit, and long-term vision paying off.

Janell’s first official year with GGP came through the company’s acquisition of The Rouse Company, a transition that brought significant change. “I felt like a fish out of water at first,” she recalls. “We had been part of a much smaller organization with very different processes.”

In her first six months, she reported to four different supervisors and wasn’t sure the company would be the right fit. But through major milestones—including bankruptcy and additional company acquisitions—she found her footing and eventually stepped into a leadership role guiding property teams across the Northeast: “I feel honored to have been able to provide leadership and stability so our teams could produce results.”

One piece of guidance she often shares came from a female mentor early in her career: “She told me to always make sure you have someone in your lifeboat. That advice has stayed with me ever since.”

Some moments in this business are simply unforgettable. While working at South Street Seaport during the holiday season, Janell received unexpected news from her security director: the President of the United States was on his way to the property for a last-minute shopping stop. “I ran to the balcony just in time to see the motorcade coming down the FDR,” she recalls. “That was definitely a day I won’t forget.”

“You have to love this business,” she says. “No two days are ever the same—or boring.”

Lizette Driscoll

Director, Leasing

When Lizette Driscoll reflects on her career, two themes stand out: ambition and relationships.

If her journey were a film, she says it might be Working Girl—a nod to the era when she started and the determination that shaped her path: “I was commuting [to Chicago] from Northwest Indiana when I started,” she says. “But the bigger theme of that movie is ambition.”

Lizette joined GGP as a leasing assistant with a clear goal: to eventually move into a transactional leasing role.

Over time, she achieved exactly that, first transitioning into business development and most recently joining the permanent leasing team.

Her advice for those entering the industry reflects the relationship-driven nature of the business: “Our industry is built on relationships. Being forthright and accountable builds the trust partnerships depend on.”

Lizette also credits early mentors who helped guide her career: “Two brokers I supported early on encouraged me to interview with GGP when the headquarters relocated to Chicago. I’ll always be grateful for their support.”

Decades later, those early connections remain an important part of her story.

A legacy built over time

Across these stories, a few themes emerge again and again: mentorship, resilience, relationships, and a willingness to grow alongside the industry itself.

Careers that span decades rarely follow a predictable path. But as these women’s experiences show, the impact of that time extends far beyond individual roles or titles.

It lives on in the people they’ve mentored, the teams they’ve built, and the communities their work continues to shape.

At GGP, that legacy continues—carried forward by the next generation building on the foundation these women helped create.