Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Here is a look at the successful career of one of our newest inductees, Leah FitzGerald, managing director and market leader with the Kansas City, Missouri, office of CBRE.
Leah FitzGerald didn’t take the straightest path to her current position as managing director and market leader with the Kansas City office of CBRE. No, her background includes stints as a licensed general contractor and an Imagineer at the Walt Disney Company. She also brings a background in corporate real estate, architecture and development to her role.
These career stops, though, have given her the knowledge and experience necessary to thrive in her current role. Working as an Imagineer at Walt Disney Company taught FitzGerald how important it is to capture the essence of a project by telling its story through the language of architecture and design. The more than 10 years she spent in estimating and project management taught her how complex the building process can be.
FitzGerald’s previous experience has given her a holistic approach to the commercial real estate industry. This is important in FitzGerald’s current role, in which she oversees the operations of CBRE’s Kansas City office and leads its growth strategy. Her broad base of industry experience combined with her forward-thinking approach allows FitzGerald to deliver the best possible results to CBRE’s clients.
“I’ve never been afraid to try something new or reinvent myself,” FitzGerald said. “Having worked in design, construction, finance, and development has influenced and expanded how I approach the opportunities at CBRE. Through each of these experiences I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from best-in-class leaders in Commercial Real Estate, and that has been invaluable.”
“Now at CBRE, I’ve found that being able to approach business through a multifaceted lens while at the same time using my creative side is enjoyable and rewarding.”
It’s not surprising that FitzGerald’s peers have recognized her CRE achievements. During her career, she has earned the Regional Leadership Award from the Women’s Leadership Initiative of the Urban Land Institute, was listed as a 40-under-40 professional to watch by Engineering News-Record and was the 2022 recipient of the Women Who Mean Business award from the Kansas City Business Journal.
FitzGerald has worked in commercial real estate since 1995, crafting a career that has so far spanned 28 years. What does she enjoy most about this business?
“There is so much about it that I love,” she said. “Being able to contribute in some way to the growth and development of our city, the thrill of cutting the ribbon and finishing a long project that required a large team of professionals, the joy of helping clients find solutions to their problems are all particularly rewarding.
“I’m grateful for having been a part of some really fun projects and also to have worked on so many different sides of CRE,” FitzGerald said. “Above all what I value the most are all the amazing people I’ve met and friendships I’ve made along the way.”
Despite her busy career, FitzGerald has found time to give back to her industry. She has been a member of Urban Land Institute (ULI) since 1995, and established and chaired the Women’s Leadership Initiative of the Kansas City chapter and served on ULI’s transportation committee. She is the president elect of Midtown KC Now and a member of the Young Presidents Organization.
When not working? FitzGerald describes her happy place as entertaining with family and friends. She also admits to being obsessive about her charcuterie boards and is always on the hunt for an interesting or unique type of cheese.
