THE PROGRAM
The Next Level Leader prepares high-performing real estate investment management leaders to bridge from running a function to leading across the enterprise. It pairs a personal leadership assessment with an immersive, team-based experience, and it runs a day and a half in person at the Ferguson Partners office in Chicago.
WHO IT IS FOR
Strong candidates are rising REIM executives, typically one to two levels below the C-suite, who have demonstrated leadership in a specific function or business vertical and are ready to broaden their impact across the enterprise. The cohort brings together peers from NAREIM member organizations across acquisitions, asset and portfolio management, capital raising, finance, property operations, and corporate functions.
DETAILS
- Format. A 1½-day, in person program, preceded by a Hogan leadership assessment and one-on-one debrief with Ferguson Partners.
- Location. Ferguson Partners Office,123 N. Wacker, Chicago, IL.
- Cohort 1. March 9–10, 2027.
- Included. The Hogan assessment and one-on-one debrief, all program sessions, materials, and session meals. Note: Travel and lodging are not included.
- The cohort. A cross-functional group of peers drawn from NAREIM member firms.
- Fee. $8,000 per participant.
Key outcomes
BENEFITS FOR THE COMPANY
• A leader who is ready for a broader enterprise role
• A multiplier who grows the people around them
• A leader who moves from doing the work to leading
through others
• A leader who sees decisions through an enterprise
and capital lens
• An investment in the development and retention
of rising leaders
BENEFITS FOR THE PARTICIPANT
• Grow team leadership skills, moving from doing
the work to leading the work
• Build a network of peers from across the industry
• Think more holistically about the enterprise value
• Learn to influence key stakeholders, from founders
to peers to capital partners
• Gain a clear read on their own leadership style
and pressure points
How it works
The program is built around five integrated components:
A personal leadership assessment
Every participant completes a Hogan assessment and a one-on-one debrief before the program, so they arrive thinking about how they lead.
A grounding in what drives the business
A working session on the metrics REIM leaders use to run and grow the enterprise, informed by the NAREIM and Ferguson Partners Global Management Survey.
An immersive team simulation
In small teams, participants take on the decisions a chief executive faces and must consider their implications through an enterprise lens. The experience builds across the day and a half and ends with a presentation to a panel of senior industry leaders.
Learning bursts on critical leadership skills
Short, practical sessions on leading yourself, leading others, and influencing without authority, interwoven through the immersive team simulation.
A personal development plan
Each participant leaves with a concrete plan and a set of commitments for their own growth
FERGUSON PARTNERS' QUALIFICATIONS
Ferguson Partners brings deep expertise in real estate investment management and leadership development, with longstanding relationships across the industry and a strong understanding of the capabilities required to lead investment management organizations. Through their work advising investment managers on organizational strategy, leadership, succession, and talent, Ferguson Partners is uniquely positioned to prepare high-performing leaders for the transition from functional leadership to enterprise leadership.
Hosted in conjunction with NAREIM, the Next Level Leader program combines this industry expertise with a personal leadership assessment and immersive, team-based experience to help participants broaden their perspective, strengthen their leadership effectiveness, and prepare to lead at the enterprise level.
Interested in sending a leader?
Places in Cohort 1 are limited. To express interest or hold a place, contact NAREIM CEO, Andy Walburger.
Please confirm participation by November 18, 2026.
March 9–10, 2027 | Chicago | $8,000