By Merlisa Lawrence Corbett
Fall traditionally means back to school for kids and college students. But for real estate developers, school is always in session. Akin to discipleship, a real estate developer’s educational journey is a process of perpetual learning, shifting from student to teacher, mentor to mentee.
Continued education is necessary because the real estate development industry has evolved from feudal systems run by lords into a technology-driven industry with collaborative partnerships and complex financing options. To maintain a competitive edge, real estate developers must stay informed about emerging markets, industry best practices, and regulatory updates. Staying informed requires embracing ongoing education as a key growth strategy.
“We strongly encourage our team and key collaborators to participate in certifications, workshops and conferences,” said Jennifer Horne, CEO of Urban Campus & Core. “It helps expand our shared internal knowledge and allows are team members to build subject matter expertise in areas that naturally interest them.”
In the real estate industry, the learning curve is a circle. Even accomplished professionals constantly sharpen their project management, market analysis, and risk assessment skills. Whether through formal courses or workshops, real estate industry professionals benefit from fortifying their expertise with ongoing education.
Todd Usher, founder and president of Addison Homes, a Greenville, South Carolina-based company, pursued a doctoral degree in building design, despite heading a thriving home-building business.
“I continue to be enthused and fascinated with the cross-disciplinary interaction between students from each of these disciplines, related to home building, but often not incorporated into most home builders’ worldview,” Usher said in an interview with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “My graduate school experience has positively impacted my approach to high-performance building, enabling me to take a more holistic view of the home building industry.”
Usher first served as an advisor to Clemson University’s Construction Science and Management program for several years before enrolling as a student.
“My return to school was two-pronged: I started to teach in the CSM program as a Graduate Instructor and simultaneously started the Ph.D. program,” he said. “The most substantial driver for returning to school after 24 years was my love of teaching and sharing my knowledge combined with my lifelong interest in learning.”
Usher’s experience is one that many in the real estate industry can relate to. Having learned valuable lessons running a business or working in a C-suite, accomplished real estate professionals can offer knowledge to those new to the industry, making them ideal educators. These seasoned professionals also value educational opportunities.
The Changing Landscape of Real Estate Development
The changing landscape of real estate development demands multi-disciplinary training. While there is no one route to becoming a real estate developer, specific acquired skills are necessary for success. Developers need a broad understanding of general construction and design principles, analytical skills, and familiarity with financial metrics, budgets, and cash flow management.
Whether emerging, mid-career, or seasoned, real estate developers must train to build intellectual agility in an industry ripe with pitfalls, roadblocks, and U-turns.
“I find a lot of value in investing in industry groups and trade organizations to help filter to the key trends and themes that are having an impact in the market,” said Horne. “With so much information coming out on a daily basis, having subject matter experts help provide context and perspective, whether in written publications, industry panels, or conferences, it helps get to the key themes.”
Take artificial Intelligence. AI has been around since the 1960s. However, the incorporation of AI into real estate development has accelerated in recent years, and so developers must understand its impact on the industry. Real estate developers committed to sustainability must now assess the greenhouse gas emissions of generative AI and the ethics surrounding its use.
Technological advancements, sustainability demands, and regulatory changes can make something that was an industry standard five years ago obsolete, undesirable, or unlawful tomorrow.
The increased complexity in project financing, urban planning, and community engagement necessitates ongoing education, which strengthens adaptability.
“I think it starts with openness and transparency that no one is expected to know everything, and encouraging the mindset that innovation comes from looking at a challenge from multiple perspectives and unraveling the known and unknown threads that lead to a solution,” said Horne.
Continuous learning enhances industry expertise and fosters innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. This can build credibility with clients, partners, and stakeholders. A real estate developer equipped with ongoing education also promotes ethical standards and responsible development. That developer, in the know, becomes an asset to partners and investors.
Jennifer Horne’s Professional Development Journey
Horne’s formal education includes graduating from Vanderbilt University, where her studies focused on organizational leadership, as well as corporate social responsibility and community engagement.
As an executive with the international real estate firm Lendlease for 12 years, Horne led development and sustainability teams to achieve successful project outcomes in world-class developments, master-planned communities, and public-private partnerships.
But her education didn’t stop there.
“I was blessed to participate in the Urban League of Middle Tennessee’s RED Academy sponsored by Amazon which provided a unique opportunity to explore community-based affordable housing solutions,” said Horne. “The program created an amazing network of industry leaders and professionals I still look to for guidance today”.
Horne’s Ongoing Education
Holds the LEED Green Associate credential, which certifies foundational knowledge of green building principles and sustainable practices.
Earned an Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership certificate from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2015, a program specifically focused on sustainability studies for senior leaders.
Part of the inaugural cohort of the R.E.D. Academy, a program offered through the Urban League of Middle Tennessee. This 18-month immersive leadership program provides training, mentorship, networking, and access to financing for minority developers, aiming to break down barriers to entry and advancement in real estate development. The Academy focuses on equipping participants with the skills and relationships necessary for success in affordable and inclusive real estate projects..
Instructor for Pathway Lending’s Emerging Developers program, a six-week training initiative designed to help new and established developers build capacity, expand their portfolios, and access resources for real estate projects. This program is designed to support diverse and underrepresented groups within the industry.
Participated in BrainTrust, an organization of women entrepreneurs and leaders who have been a critical part in helping me explore ways to grow and scale our firm strategically.
Belongs to the TN Women’s Affordable Housing Network, an excellent resource for connecting locally with industry professionals as well as the Urban Land Institute‘s local and national committees and programs.
Involved with the Real Estate Executive Council, a fantastic source for connecting with industry leaders and mentors.
Horne equates the mentor-mentee relationship to informal education, where a real estate developer gains insight from someone else’s trials and errors.
“There are so many universal things in real estate. Don’t be scared to learn more about something that doesn’t seem to align with your background or experience. Don’t think, “I’m not a civil engineer, or I don’t have a background in finance,” Horne said in an interview with the Housing Innovation Alliance. “If you have an interest in how communities grow and develop well and are maintained, there are so many ways to connect in real estate. Stay inquisitive and don’t dismiss something because you think it’s off limits.”
A real estate developer equipped with ongoing education also promotes ethical standards and responsible development. That developer, in the know, becomes an asset to partners and investors.
Being a mentor or mentee helped Horne build strong relationships in the real estate development industry.
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This spring, Horne served as an advisor. We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Spring 2025 Amazon Affordable Housing Equity Bridge Program, powered by Project Destined. We trained 30-plus students from 10 schools, providing them with hands-on experience in affordable housing development, policy, financing, and underwriting.
The multi-week program included interactive speaker sessions with leaders from Amazon and its partners in the Puget Sound, National Capital, and Nashville regions, as well as sector-specific technical training and a site visit, providing participants with exposure to early-career opportunities in the affordable housing sector.
Practical Steps for Developers to Commit to Ongoing Learning
Ongoing education takes time and requires planning. The following are practical steps to fostering a culture of lifelong learning:
Set personal professional development goals: what do you want your real estate development firm to look like in five years? What professional development programs can help you get there?
Allocate time and budget for education: consider ongoing learning as a strategic investment in your growth.
Seek out mentors and peer groups: Surround yourself with people who share similar goals or are where you wish to be.
Stay informed by remaining engaged with industry publications and online resources. Read thought-provoking pieces, analyze research, and carefully digest the data.
Attend relevant industry events regularly to get to know key players and ensure they recognize you.
Embrace a growth mindset and continuous improvement: Make ongoing education an integral part of who you are, not just about what you do.
Continued education is key to sustainable success. Horne’s commitment to education, which bolsters her expertise, is one of the reasons she has been recognized as a woman of influence in the industry.
There are always opportunities to acquire knowledge in the industry. Continued education strengthens a real estate developer's consultant toolkit. Developing leadership skills and strategic vision can enhance project quality and build trust among partnerships.
So this fall, go back to school and stay in school.