From the inspiring insights and animated conversations during both the Young Leaders Forum in Madrid and the Autumn Study Tour in Athens, to organising over 60 local Young Leaders-led events across Europe, the community has demonstrated a firm commitment to fostering thought-provoking discussions and steering impactful change in the built environment.

From among all the successful initiatives in 2023, ULI Europe Young Leaders Chair Thibault Weston Smith recognises the positive response from the community to both the PropTech Innovation Challenge and Sister Cities in particular.

He comments: “I take immense pride in the success of our inaugural PropTech Innovation Challenge (PIC), which attracted over 120 applications, and the introduction of our Sister Cities initiative, which builds relationships between pairs of local Young Leaders groups and saw the participation of 14 cities from across Europe. Despite navigating a challenging macro environment, the unwavering commitment of our Young Leaders to place today’s industry challenges at the core of our focus – encompassing ESG, affordability, and diversity – serves as a source of inspiration and energy across all levels.”

What should we expect in 2024?

According to Weston Smith, ULI Europe Young Leaders will continue to pave the way in leading industry progress and transformative change next year by acting and shaping a more sustainable, connected, and forward-thinking real estate landscape. With over 1,600 members, the group continues to extend beyond borders and to collaborate with other ULI members both locally and internationally, and to interact with industry leaders and subject-matter experts.

He adds: “Our focus remains to strengthen and expand on the most impactful initiatives within our programme, such as our thriving mentorship programme and ULI PIC which will be starting in new countries during 2024, whilst making sure we also break new ground and address the needs of professionals

under the age of 35 in our industry today. We’re a people industry, and we will continue to expand the opportunities to meet in person throughout the year. I encourage all Young Leaders and their companies to continue to engage with ULI in 2024 and to leverage the opportunities our community offers for mentorship, upskilling, knowledge exchange, and networking across our local, European, and global ULI platforms.”

Join ULI to become a member of the ULI Europe Young Leaders community to connect, inspire, and lead. We look forward to meeting you in 2024!