There’s something oddly comforting about “the way things have always been done.” But let’s be real — the world’s changed, and a lot of real estate delivery hasn’t.

For 20+ years, there have been some global corporates that have stuck to the same formula: one big partner, one rigid framework, and one familiar playbook that’s been dusted off year after year. It worked… until it didn’t. And now? It’s outdated. Out of touch.

I’m not here to throw shade just for the sake of it — and sure, I’m not 20 years into my career (yet). But even I can see we’re overdue for a reset. The traditional model made sense then — when standardisation meant efficiency, when scale equalled success, and when local context was more of a footnote.

But today? Real estate is personal. It’s cultural. It’s strategic. And cookie-cutter just doesn’t cut it anymore.

The brief has changed. Space isn’t just about square footage or service lines. It’s about attracting talent. embedding culture. Decarbonising portfolios. Accelerating transformation. What we need now is a different kind of delivery model — one that’s more agile, more intelligent, and more human.

At Avison Young, we’re helping global clients flip the script. Instead of conforming to a top-down global template, we’re building from the ground up — creating regional delivery ecosystems that reflect the real-world dynamics of EMEA, APAC, and the Americas. This looks like:

• Innovation driven by local suppliers — not just global frameworks
• Data and insights that flow both ways — not just top-down
• ESG, DEI, and wellbeing baked in from day one — not tacked on later
• A global core that flexes with the region — not the other way around

It’s not about choosing between control or creativity. It’s about building the architecture that makes space for both.

I hear a lot of the same thing from global heads of real estate: that the old models feel more like vendor contracts than value partnerships. Clients want something different — something more collaborative, more challenging, more alive. And honestly? So do I.

I might be new to the industry, but I’m not new to expecting better. I see this moment as an opportunity — to rethink how we deliver, how we partner, and how we show up. Smarter systems. More inclusive ecosystems. Real estate that actually works for the world we’re in now.

So, let’s ditch the dusty playbook — and write a better one.

Signing off,

Jasmin