Leslie Harwood joined Newmark in 1993 as a Managing Director specializing in Tenant Representation. Harwood represents many different types of firms in New York City, confidently providing them with expert real estate services based on her more than 40 years of real estate experience.
Known for her creative and broad perspective of the leasing environment, Harwood’s expertise lies in her ability to bring to her clients an entire transactional team backed with the full resources of Newmark. She has developed an extensive network of some of the best professionals in the commercial real estate field.
Harwood has consistently negotiated for her clients’ substantially below-market rental rates. Tenants she has recently represented include AEA Investors; FILA Korea; Ingleside Investors, Rizzoli Books, The Young People’s Chorus and The Ideal School.. Harwood and her Newmark Team specializing in school representation currently represents Success Academy, guiding them in the acquisition and leasing of charter schools throughout the metropolitan New York area and the boroughs.
In addition to her leasing and sales experience, Harwood has developed 2 million square feet of residential housing and retail in the New York metropolitan area, She also heads a development team that is working on a 1 million-square-foot 1100 unit residential, retail and entertainment project in downtown Jersey City’s Journal Square.
Harwood also owes much of her real estate expertise to her involvement in Harwood Properties, a private real estate developer and manager based in Jersey City. A family business with deep roots in Jersey City that go back to the 1920s, Harwood Properties has developed a deep understanding of development and urban development. Its projects have included every major asset category, including parking facilities, office, retail, industrial and residential properties. The company currently focuses on investing in parking operations and development sites, with a particular emphasis on development and revitalization opportunities in urban, transit-oriented locations.
Professional Achievements
Harwood’s success has earned her the recognition of her peers. A longtime member (and former chairman) of the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association, she was named its 2017 Senior Professional of the Year for her commitment to the real estate industry. In 1993, Harwood was named Young Real Estate Person of the Year, an honor to hold both awards. Harwood’s other professional accolades include the Emma Lazarus Award for “Dynamic Women in Business,” which she received from the Associated Builders & Owners of Greater New York. She is presently on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Division of the Real Estate Board of New York.
Additionally, Harwood was the guest of honor at the inaugural luncheon of the New Leadership Real Estate Cabinet of Israel Bonds. Her dedication to raising money for Israel later won her the Max Feld Industry Achievement Award from Israel Bonds. Harwood currently serves as Co-Chairman Emeritus of the Real Estate New Leadership Division of Israel Bonds.
This year, in February 2024, she was an honoree at the Ideal School annual benefit for her role in securing their new state of the art facility. Ideal is a school that celebrates all types of learning styles for a wide range of learners in an inclusive community.
Professional Affiliations
An active industry leader, Harwood serves on the Commercial Brokerage Midtown committee of the Real Estate Board of New York and is a member of WX (Women Executives in Real Estate, New York). Recently, Harwood founded NOW (Network of Women), an organization dedicated to advocating and creating opportunities for women within Newmark, BGC Partners and Cantor Fitzgerald. She is also a member of the Kean University Foundation Board, in Union, NJ. Kean university is part of NJ’s public system of Higher Education and is a state designated research University. She is also active in creating scholarship funding at Kean.
Harwood is also involved in many philanthropic causes. In 2007, she co-chaired the lunch for Planned Parenthood New York and is involved in Pro Choice, NY. Her family is committed to many different organizations that help make the world a better place.
Education
Harwood is a graduate of the University of Miami. She has three children and resides in New York City and Southampton.