In 2021, the data strategy meeting covered: 

 May 18, 2021

Morning session

11am-1pm ET

Investor appetite for data, new tools and user adoption

We live in a world of data, and we want more of it. But what exactly is being asked for and what do institutional investors really want from their managers? The NAREIM Data Strategy meeting kick's off with a "What’s on your mind?" discussion focused on understanding investor appetite for and use of data; and - during a member-only discussion - asks managers how have they changed their process or data use compared to just two to three years ago, and how are they driving user adoption around such tools?

11am: Welcome comments

• Chair of the NAREIM Data Strategy committee: Christopher Gilene, Global Technology Leader, Invesco Real Estate

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11.05am: Investor appetite for data. Why, what and how do you want to use it?

Investors and consultants discuss the increasing appetite for data from investment managers, what is driving the need for additional data and how the data is being utilized.

• Margaret McKnight, Partner, StepStone Group

• Sam Spencer, Investment Officer, Oregon State Treasury

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Member-only discussion

For members and managers only

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11.45am: New tools and user adoption

In data, if you build it, they don't necessarily come. Through case studies and a whole room Q&A lightning round, NAREIM members talk to the new tools, processes and strategies they have implemented over the past two years – and how they did (and did not) increase user adoption and business performance.

• Case study reviews:

  • Bahaar Sidhu, CFO, Berkeley Partners. Expanding Power BI, a data warehouse and off-the-shelf software to create real-time IR, asset management and property management dashboards. Planning how to use the value of tenant surveys at acquisition.

  • Christopher Gilene, Global Technology Leader, Invesco Real Estate. Incorporating innovative data sets and analysis techniques into the investment decision making process.

  • Scott Cross, Director of Reporting & Analytics, Nuveen Real Estate. Tenant risk, exposure and credit worthiness analytics - what worked and didn't work.

• Lightning round:

  • Led by Courtney Lee, Quantitative Researcher, UBS Realty. Members share their own projects, answering the following questions:

    • What are you working on?

    • What's been the user adoption experience? ​

    • What worked? And didn't work?

    • What would you do differently next time?

    • What's on your wish list?

1pm: Morning session conclusion. Lunch

Afternoon session

2pm-4pm ET

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2pm: Welcome comments. 

• Co-chair of the NAREIM Data Strategy committee: Courtney Lee, Quantitative Researcher, UBS Realty

2.05pm: Score your data strategy

You may not be score-carding your strategy just yet, but how do you even start to think about evaluating the performance of your data and the policies surrounding it? How do we begin to look to tracking ROI on data strategy?

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Through three case studies and whole room Q&A we dive into how peers measure the effectiveness and success of specific projects within data strategies, to help NAREIM members think and assess how best to measure their own success. The case studies will focus on scoring the talent and people within data strategy; how we can start to think about a scorecard for the overarching data strategy; and a deep dive into a specific data project.

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Each speaker will outline their ideas, where they are in the evolution of their evaluation and where things have worked - and not worked - through short 7-min presentations to members, followed by open Q&A.

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• Linda Isaacson, Managing Director, Global Head of Innovation & Technology, Ferguson Partners. In an exclusive for NAREIM members, Linda discusses how they are looking to evaluate the people and resources targeted with driving digital and data transformation within their real estate investment management.

• Jim Valente, Global Head of Data Services, RealFoundations presents an analysis of scorecard metrics currently used within real estate investment management firms, and where the lessons learned are being applied today.

• Joseph Ehrenfeld, Senior Director, Business Applications and Larry Maya, Senior Director, Data Strategy and Analytics, USAA Real Estate provide insights into how USAA has evaluated the performance of its critical property attributes and occupancy reporting.

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3.10pm: Breakout room discussion and reporting back

In breakout groups, members discuss the key challenges and priorities they are working on and dig deep into the real-time solutions and best practices. Each breakout group leader will take notes and report on their roundtable conversations in a whole room feedback round after the breakout session. Each breakout group will be limited to 6 people. Video is highly recommended.

4pm: Concluding comments