Unleashing the Power of Operational Excellence: Lessons from a Real Estate COO

On this episode of Empowered Returns, join us as we explore creating a people-centered workplace culture and elevating women's roles in commercial real estate. 

 

We'll talk about designing employee programs that promote work-life balance and wellness, how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted operations at many organizations, and discuss the importance of implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies in commercial real estate. Our special guest, Leslie Cohen, Chief Operating Officer at The Davis Companies, shares her insights. 

 

Tune in for this insightful conversation and don't forget to subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday!

 

Overall Themes: Workplace Culture, Focus on People, Work-Life Balance, Community Engagement, Enhancement of Women’s roles in the real estate industry.

Guest Bio: As Chief Operating Officer, Leslie Cohen is a key contributor to Davis’ business strategy and is responsible for driving its successful implementation and financial performance.

Leslie serves as the Chairperson of the Company’s Executive Committee and as a voting member of its Investment Committee. She is also responsible for fostering and maintaining an inclusive corporate culture, one that ensures employee engagement and retention, and for overseeing the successful implementation of that strategy.

 

Leslie most recently served as the COO and Head of Asset Management for Samuels & Associates where she was responsible for executing the strategic vision of the firm across numerous multi-million dollar developments in Boston and the surrounding communities.

An active leader in the region’s real estate community, Leslie served as the President of CREW Boston (formerly NEWiRE); she is currently on the NAIOP MA Board Management Committee and was 2020 President of NAIOP MA. She has co-chaired the Heading Home Housewarming event for several years and is now a member of their Board. The combination of professional success and civic engagement has resulted in numerous honors, including recognition as a Bisnow’s Power Women in Commercial Real Estate, a Woman who Means Business by Boston Business Journal and multiple awards from CREW Boston.

 

A resident of Brookline, Cohen has a BCSE in Engineering from Tufts University and a MBA from Babson University.

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