In this week’s show, I speak with Sondra Wenger, who is Head of Americas Commercial Operator Division for CBRE Investment Management.

Sondra began her career in the commercial real estate industry in 1995 and has sourced, negotiated and closed over $10 billion of transactions in more than 35 cities. Prior to joining CBRE Investment Management in 2021, she served as a senior executive for institutions including CIM Group, General Electric and Equity Office Properties.

I had the pleasure of meeting with her at Bisnow’s Escape conference where she led our tribe. We engaged in some incredible discussion about the challenges we face in the market, but, in turn, the opportunities. She is in an incredible position to guide her firm through these unchartered waters.

Sondra begins by telling her story of starting as an accountant but quickly learning that she did not fit the profile. She transitioned to work on the ownership side for some of the most legendary investors out there, including Sam Zell. She also talks about working for larger firms while staying entrepreneurial and ahead of the curve. I love what Sondra has to say about leadership. She has an open and communicative leadership style which serves her well. She loves giving everyone a seat at the table, which she learned through her experience. She also talks about the importance of saying “yes” when learning to take on hard assignments that no one else wants. “That’s where you gain real experience and respect.” This also means staying open to new opportunities.

I know you will get a lot of this episode. You can find out more on Sondra at: https://www.cbreim.com/people/sondra-wenger or at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondrawenger/.