2024 Fall Issue of Urban Land - 30

developments
developments
Q&A with Angela Cain
Seasoned executive
shares passion for the
built environment
ULI Global CEO Angela
Cain joined the Institute in
September, bringing with her
more than 25 years of global
nonprofit and leadership
experience in the real estate
industry.
The Global Board of Directors
selected Cain after a comprehensive,
worldwide search
led by ULI Americas Chair Kristina
Raspe and immediate past
Americas Chair Clare De Briere.
Most recently, Cain served
for more than 14 years as CEO
of CoreNet Global, a professional
association for corporate
real estate executives, where
she spearheaded organizational
and operational changes
that yielded significant
growth in global membership,
strengthened overall financial
health, and enhanced business
decision-making.
She previously was CEO of
a state branch of the National
Association of REALTORS
and served as vice president
of Global Events for NACORE
International, a predecessor
organization to CoreNet
Global. She is a native Floridian,
a graduate of the University
of Florida, and the proud
mother of college-age twins.
Cain shared her thoughts
with Urban Land on what she
considers ULI's superpower,
how ULI and its members will
help solve global and local
challenges of the future, and
why she calls herself a chief
listening officer.
Q: What brought you to ULI?
The ULI mission is a powerful
one that resonates with
me. The organization's commitment
to connecting with
industry leaders, inspiring
action through best practices,
and leading with some of the
brightest minds in real estate is
truly compelling. Being part of
such a diverse group of leaders
excites me, and I'm eager
to contribute to shaping the
future of the built environment.
Q: Why are you passionate
about the future of the built
environment?
Addressing the complex land
use challenges facing cities will
be critical to ensuring communities
thrive for generations to
come. In just over 25 years, the
world's population is expected
to reach nearly 10 billion. Most
of this growth will occur in our
cities, with almost seven out
of 10 people projected to live
in urban spaces by 2050. This
shift will place significant pressure
on both established and
emerging metropolitan areas,
presenting challenges that will
require innovative, multifaceted
solutions-which ULI is in a
unique position to offer.
ULI Global CEO Angela Cain
30
URBAN LAND
FALL 2 024
Q: What do you see as the
greatest opportunity for ULI
and its members?
ULI is its members. By leveraging
our collective expertise-
across the real estate sector
and all around the world-we
can devise cross-disciplinary
solutions that not only address
global trends but also make
a tangible difference in local
communities. That is ULI's
superpower. This extraordinary
organization can help build a
better future by delivering local
impact on a global scale.
Q: What is the best professional
advice you've ever
received?
My mentor, the late H. Gordon
Wyllie MCR, a pioneer in the
corporate real estate profession,
taught me that everybody
has a story. You just
have to shut up and listen.
That listening skill, empathetic
listening, has served me well
throughout my professional
career. Understanding people
and building relationships is
vital to the kinds of roles I've
had. That's why I call myself a
chief listening officer, first and
foremost. And that's what I
plan to do over the next few
months: listen to our members,
staff, donors, district and
national councils, partnering
organizations, and other key
stakeholders to better understand
our current goals and to
collectively shape our vision for
the future.
Q: What is your favorite place
to visit or spend time in?
As a new empty nester, I'm
trying to figure that out! My
twins are off to college this
year, and I'm working to discover
what I will do in this
next chapter of my life. Joining
ULI seemed like a good place
to start. Outside of that, I enjoy
those few moments I get with
my kids these days. They hug
me a little tighter when they
see me of late, which melts a
mother's heart. UL
JACK MORRISSEY is ULI director of
executive communications and is based in
Chicago.
2024 Fall Issue of Urban Land

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