Maria Silva has quickly become a star of New York City. With the doorwoman work she does today, she is one of 3% of women in her field. Having worked and advocated for over 20 years, her passion shines through as she takes us inside the 250-unit luxury rental building in Brooklyn. Here, she’s notable as the only female employee on a staff of ten total. This prestigious position among what some call the “luxury of luxury” buildings is a fitting testament to her steadfast dedication. It highlights the struggles that women face in this typically male-dominated position.
Doorwomen like Silva have, in many ways, reshaped the New York City skyline. They offer indispensable services that extend well beyond opening doors and welcoming residents home. They represent the future workforce. They’re restructuring to better meet the demands of the 21st century and their changed missions, now largely centered on sorting packages and tracking down deliveries. Silva’s day usually starts and ends with this job, one that’s become increasingly crucial with the boom in e-commerce as more consumers shifted to purchasing goods online.
Silva deeply values knowing each resident personally, fostering relationships that build trust and care beyond the professional interaction. “Their friends, their parents, cousins, everything. Dogs, too,” she says, emphasizing the deep connections she forms with those living in her building. This rapport has resulted in invites to major life events, weddings and graduation celebrations. “Sometimes I’m the first one to learn when one of the girls is pregnant, or they’ll invite me to their weddings,” Silva shared, highlighting her integral role in the community.
These obstacles to success are steep for women in this male-dominated field. Yet even with their superior contributions, they still need to work twice as hard to get and keep their jobs. Silva acknowledges this reality, stating, “Once in a while you get those. It doesn’t bother me, though.” Her tenacity and determination is now reflected by other state Chiefs of Staff taking on these roles as well.
Sharon Noel Lake, another legendary doorwoman of color, served for decades at a different ultra-luxury condo on Billionaires’ Row. Like Silva, she is the only woman of more than 30 employees. It hasn’t been a straightforward path for Lake. She remembers her first time hearing about the profession and not understanding what it was. “I didn’t even know what a concierge was, coming from Trinidad,” she said. Her experience is typical of an overall trend of women taking on roles generally dominated by men.
As Lake has pointed out, she’s been very well-received, and that’s because of one key approach of hers. “They always say, ‘Oh, she’s giving it the female touch,’” she remarked. For Moon, this recognition serves to highlight the importance of including diverse service roles, particularly in the context of the luxury space. The respect she commands is a reminder that women are not taking these jobs, but radically changing them.
Olga Pabon has already put her stamp on the real-life Upper East Side as a successful doorwoman. She has done so brilliantly for the last eight years. Pabon even plays the role of her building’s porter at times, using the extra duties to add depth to her character. She understands the demands of the job and emphasizes the necessity of hard work: “I just learned that I had to stand on my 10 toes,” she stated, reinforcing the message that determination and dedication are essential.
The future of the city The city continues to grow and evolve with new technologies and changing consumer habits. As a result, the expectations for everyone who serves its residents are increasing as well.
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