Expanding Access and Strengthening Talent in Commercial Real Estate

CBRE’s partnership with CREW Network is grounded in a simple idea: the industry grows stronger when more people can see a place for themselves in it. That starts with awareness, but it doesn’t stop there. Real progress comes from building clear, accessible paths into commercial real estate, especially for those who haven’t historically had exposure to these careers.

That belief shapes how we approach talent across CBRE. Workforce development is tied directly to how we serve clients, how we grow and how we show up in the communities around us.

Building the Next Generation of Talent

Some of the most meaningful work is happening at the entry point, before careers even begin or fully take shape.

Within Building Operations & Experience (BOE), Lori West, Technical Careers Director, is leading efforts to expand apprenticeship programs that open doors into often-overlooked technical roles. These aren’t abstract learning tracks. Participants are on-site, working alongside experienced teams and learning how buildings function day-to-day. They earn credentials, build confidence and develop skills that translate immediately to the job. 

Just as important, these programs meet people where they are. A four-year degree is not the only pathway to a successful career, and under Lori’s leadership, CBRE's apprenticeship programs are creating new opportunities for individuals to enter high-demand technical fields. More than 800 apprentices have completed the Mechatronics and Maintenance Technician programs across the U.S., gaining valuable skills, industry experience and a direct route into rewarding careers. By expanding access to these opportunities, CBRE is helping strengthen and diversify the talent pipeline for the facilities management and commercial real estate industry.

In Capital Markets, Chelsea Cutler, Senior Managing Director, is driving a different but equally important approach. The Fellowship Program connects with students before they graduate and gives them a clear view into the business: how deals come together, how teams operate and what the work actually demands. It blends technical learning with hands-on exposure, but what tends to last are the relationships built along the way.

The Fellowship is intentionally built as a talent pool, not simply a learning program. In its first year (2024), approximately 50 Fellows transitioned into full-time roles across CBRE's U.S. business, spanning multiple service lines and markets. That success is rooted in three core principles: selectivity, substance and relationships. Each cohort is chosen from a highly competitive applicant pool of more than 1,000 candidates, signaling the value of the opportunity. The curriculum is grounded in real-world expertise delivered by professionals actively working in the field. Just as importantly, the program creates space for participants to build meaningful relationships, which is often the factor that has the greatest long-term impact. The result is a stronger talent pipeline and a new generation of professionals who enter the industry with context, confidence and a clear vision for their future.

Leadership that Moves the Needle

Programs like these exist because leaders across CBRE are choosing to invest time, energy and credibility into building something long-term.

That looks different depending on the business—whether the focus is expanding apprenticeship tracks, refining early talent programs, staying involved with participants, etc.—but the throughline is consistent. There’s recognition that waiting for talent to find the industry isn’t a strategy. Creating access is.

It’s also a shift in mindset. Workforce development isn’t about filling immediate roles. It’s about building and shaping a talent pool that can keep pace with where the industry is headed: more technical, more complex and more connected
to client needs than ever before.

The Business and Community Impact

This work doesn’t sit outside of the business; it feeds directly into it.

Clients expect teams that are prepared, adaptable and able to solve problems in real time. That level of readiness comes from experience, but it also comes from how people are trained from the start. When talent is developed with intention, the quality of service follows.

At the same time, the broader impact is hard to ignore. These programs create access to careers that offer stability and growth for individuals as well as the industry. They introduce new perspectives and help ensure that the communities CBRE serves can see themselves reflected in the people doing the work.

Looking Ahead

CBRE continues to expand into new business lines and communities, and talent will shape what that growth looks like. The focus remains the same—keep building pathways, widening access and investing early.

Meeting the industry's future workforce needs requires casting a wide net and creating multiple pathways into careers in commercial real estate and critical infrastructure. Through programs like the apprenticeship initiatives and Capital Markets Fellowship, CBRE is opening doors for individuals who may never have previously considered a career in the industry. These are just two examples of how CBRE is investing in the future, building awareness, widening access and developing the next generation of professionals. 

For anyone interested in where the commercial real estate and critical infrastructure sectors are headed, or where they might fit into it, there’s never been a better time to take a closer look.