Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz dove into real estate law without fully realizing she'd often be the only woman at the table.

As a young lawyer in a city with growth revolving around high-rise condominium towers and intricate commercial projects, it came as no surprise when her legal focus swayed toward the industry.

“When you're young, ignorance is bliss,” the Holland & Knight partner said. “Maybe if someone had shown me the reality of who I'd be dealing with — men — I would have been intimidated.”