Day Two Panel Recap: The Future of CRE - Perspectives from Top Brokerage Leaders

What will define the next generation of commercial real estate professionals? 

Top brokerage leaders Jeffrey Rinkov SIOR, Kevin Aussef, Jody Poirier, and Global President Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR, as moderator tackled that question in a forward-looking conversation about AI, specialization, relationships and the skills brokers will need to stay competitive as the industry evolves. 

Technology Is Changing the Game 

AI is quickly becoming part of the CRE toolkit, helping professionals work faster, analyzing more information, and making better-informed decisions. 

Unanimously, the panel agreed on an important distinction: technology can enhance expertise. It can't replace it. 

As more firms gain access to sophisticated technology and data, the ability to interpret that information, ask the right questions and turn insights into action becomes even more valuable. The brokers positioned to succeed will be those who combine technology with critical thinking, specialized market knowledge, and strong client relationships. 

The Broker of the Future 

Whether working within a global platform or an entrepreneurial boutique, relevance will increasingly depend on the value a broker brings beyond the transaction. 

Clients are already asking how firms are using AI. Larger platforms are finding new ways to leverage scale and proprietary data. Specialists are bringing deeper expertise to increasingly complex transactions. Through all of it, there is one distinct advantage that remains human: relationships. 

The future of brokerage isn't simply about having more data. It's about knowing what to do with it and having the expertise and relationships to turn information and connections into opportunity. 

For CRE professionals, the message was clear: while AI will change the landscape, human skills like critical thinking and adaptability will remain essential. So, stay curious, specialize, embrace technology and keep investing in the human skills that technology can't replicate.  

Thank you to our sponsor Wealthbuilder 1031 for the opportunity to have this amazing panel discussion. 

AI may be changing what's possible in CRE, but how can professionals actually use emerging technology to become better at what they do? 

Read the Leveraging Tech: Strategies for Today’s CRE Professional Panel Recap, to learn practical ways CRE professionals can put technology to work and turn new tools into a competitive advantage.