Driving Digital Transformation in Real Estate with Leslie Cohen

The real estate industry has traditionally been slow to embrace new technologies. With the rapid rise of AI and the growing imperative to integrate it into our daily work, I saw this course as an opportunity to explore how we can thoughtfully and effectively implement AI across the organization.

My goal was to advance our firm’s ability to thoughtfully adopt AI and other emerging technologies into our daily workflows. As COO, I’m focused on improving efficiency, transparency, and collaboration across the organization. I saw this as an opportunity to translate the potential of AI into actionable initiatives—whether through better data integration, automated reporting, or enhanced decision-support tools—so that technology becomes a natural extension of how we work rather than a separate function.

I found the small group breakouts to be the most valuable aspect of the program. Engaging with a diverse peer group—advisors from different industries tackling similar challenges—offered fresh perspectives and alternative approaches to problem-solving. Hearing how others are integrating technology and innovation into their organizations helped me think more creatively about how we can apply similar frameworks within real estate investment and operations.

For real estate, digital transformation means using technology to make every stage of the business—acquisition, development, management, and reporting—more efficient, data-driven, and connected. It’s about breaking down silos between functions, improving access to real-time information, and automating repetitive tasks so teams can focus on higher-value work.
It’s a shift from manual, experience-based processes to a more integrated, insight-based model—one that enhances execution while preserving the human expertise that defines our industry.

Technology is fundamentally transforming both real estate and private equity by improving access to data, streamlining decision-making, and enhancing operational efficiency. In real estate, tools for data analytics, AI-driven underwriting, and digital leasing platforms are accelerating how we source, evaluate, and manage assets. In private equity, automation and advanced analytics are reshaping portfolio management, investor relations, and risk assessment.


I believe the real opportunity lies in using technology not just to make existing processes faster, but to reimagine how we create value—by improving transparency, agility, and insight across the investment lifecycle.

Take the time to learn and exchange ideas with peers who are on similar transformation journeys. Collaborating with other leaders can spark new perspectives and help shape a thoughtful, sustainable digital transformation plan.