CREW Up: To Generate Lasting Change, Turn ESG Intentions Into Actions Now

CRE companies should revamp employee policies and procedures to reflect ESG goals and priorities, said Mann. Image courtesy of CREW Network

Within commercial real estate, ESG hasn’t gained a firm foothold across the board, according to a recent CREW Network survey and research paper. Additionally, today’s uncertain economic environment has pushed many organizations back on their DEI progress.

“I think companies that have allowed their DEI efforts to lag are seeing their business impacted by weaker performance, lower bench strength, lower engagement and less ability to meet customer needs,” Wendy Mann, the CEO of CREW Network, told Commercial Property Executive Senior Editor Laura Calugar in the latest podcast interview.

In July, CREW Network surveyed 1,028 commercial real estate professionals to gather data and gain insight into the sentiments and adoption of ESG efforts in the industry. One of the aspects that stood out to Mann was that one in three CRE professionals admitted they knew very little or nothing about ESG, while half of the respondents said they knew just enough to get by.

CREW’s survey found that even though three-quarters of industry professionals consider ESG to be important in their companies, there is still much work to be done in executing an ESG strategy and aligning those efforts with advancing women and other underrepresented groups. To help business leaders move ESG forward, the research paper includes an action guide that focuses on the Social component, providing tangible ways to fulfill the S in ESG.

Here’s a sample of what Mann told Calugar in this podcast interview:

• The focus of the research (0:49)
• Why should CRE companies care about ESG? (2:43)
• What does the Social piece of ESG entail exactly? (4:31)
• The connection between ESG and DEI (5:55)
• How getting involved in communities benefits companies themselves (7:23)
• Why employee engagement is vital for any company’s ESG strategy (8:56)
• What stood out to Mann (10:42)
• How improved governance efforts can help women and other underrepresented groups in CRE advance (13:35)
• Why is action critical now? (15:27)

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