BOSTON— The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Boston/New England announced today that applications are now open for its second Center for Leadership cohort, an immersive, curriculum-driven program designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in Boston’s real estate and land-use industries. Applications from mid-career professionals will be accepted through December 1.
The Center for Leadership, launched last year, aims to advance leadership development by exposing emerging leaders to the forces shaping the region’s built environment. The program offers participants an opportunity to engage directly with ULI’s broad network of interdisciplinary experts while exploring the transformative dynamics influencing development, planning, and policy across Greater Boston.
An Eleven-Month, Multi-Site Learning Experience
The program spans eleven months and includes:
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Eight full program days, each focused on a distinct real estate or land-use topic
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One site tour
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A capstone graduation day.
Each session is hosted by a Center for Leadership sponsor or partner organization, taking participants into different locations across the Boston area for hands-on learning.
Key Themes and Curriculum Highlights
Program days will explore a wide range of contemporary real estate and urban development topics, including:
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Housing and Economic Development
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Design and Construction Trends
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Capital Markets
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Fundamentals of the Development Process
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Urban Design and Placemaking
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Policy, Governance, and the Public Sector
Coursework will feature case studies, panel discussions, and roundtable conversations led by senior industry practitioners. Leadership development sessions will be embedded throughout the curriculum, integrating both technical knowledge and professional skills-building.
Supporting Boston’s Next Generation of Leaders
The Center for Leadership is part of ULI’s broader mission to foster responsible land use, sustainable development, and strong communities. By offering mid-career professionals a structured pathway to deepen their industry understanding and leadership capabilities, ULI Boston/New England aims to strengthen the region’s pipeline of future decision-makers.
In the program’s first year, 45 exceptional interdisciplinary land use and commercial real estate leaders from Greater Boston shared expertise and key insights with participants:
- Keir Evans, BXP
- Giuliana DiMambro, BXP
- Abe Menzin, Samuels & Associates
- Patrick Rowe, MITIMCo
- Yanni Tsipis, WS Development
- Nucor Monani, City of Boston
- Melissa Peters, City of Cambridge
- Sandi Silk, Mural Real Estate
- Jonathan Greeley, Amazon
- Mike Nichols, Downtown Boston Association
- Jessica Hughes, Tishman Speyer
- Damien Chaviano, Samuels & Associates
- Talya Moked, Epsilon Associates
- Carlos Febres-Mazzei, Quaker Lane Capital
- Matt Zahler, MPZ Development
- Russ DeMartino, Skanska Commercial Development
- Sarah Forde Rogers, Federal Realty Investment Trust
- Jamey Tesler, Mass Mobility Hub
- Mike Fitzpatrick, MassDOT
- Vickie Alani, CBT Architects
- Laura Rushfeldt, CBT Architects
- Samira Ahmadi, EnviEnergy
- John Dalzell, City of Boston
- Adelaide Grady, Leggat McCall Properties
- Douglas Manz, HYM Investment Group
- Devanshi Purohit, CBT Architects
- Mark Costa, VHB
- David Gillespie, AvalonBay Communities
- Suneeth John, Fenway Community Development
- David Valecillos, The Community Builders
- Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Abundant Housing MA
- Laura Gollinger, The Collaborative Companies
- Sara Cassidy, AEW
- Ketha Largay, Bain Capital
- Jeff Myers, Colliers International
- Sal Zinno, BioMed Realty
- Amy Korte, Arrowstreet
- John Werner, Link Ventures/MIT
- Dr Alexander Wissner-Goss, Reified/Gemedy
- Kaitlin McCarthy, Ionic Development
- Jun Ho Han, Arrowstreet
- Tim Love, Utile
- Amy Dain, Boston Indicators
- Stephanie Cooper, EOEEA
- Jay Ash, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership
“In our second year, we are so pleased to offer a thoughtful, well-cultivated program for growth and connection to our region’s next generation of interdisciplinary land use and development leaders,” said Michelle Landers, Executive Director of ULI Boston/New England. “We expect that the next cohort of the Center for Leadership will gain tremendous value from the learning and networking opportunities that have been created for them.”
Ideal participants are mid-career, Greater Boston-based professionals, who work either directly or indirectly in, and have a strong working knowledge of, the real estate and/or land-use sectors. Candidates should be emerging leaders, individuals poised to assume leadership positions in their organizations or professions in the near-term (the next two to five years). They should hold an undergraduate degree or higher, with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the real estate industry or related field, including development, architecture, planning, government, transportation, engineering, finance, sustainability, and community development.
“Although I have been a ULI member for several years, and taken part in local product councils, this program far exceeded my expectations…the Center for Leadership is a well-executed program for anyone in real estate, especially those on the cusp of becoming leaders in their fields,” said Megha Vadula, Founding Principal, Mallard Investment Partners.
“Participating in the ULI Center for Leadership has been an incredibly rewarding experience, especially as a public employee. Every session offers a wealth of information that reflects the speakers’ extensive experience,” said Amanda Chiancola, Deputy Director, Department of Planning & Community Development, City of Salem. “I leave each session with new insights… I am confident that the knowledge and connections gained through the CFL program will strengthen my ability to develop effective public policy.”
Applications are open for both ULI members and non-members, and tuition assistance is available for qualified applicants. The deadline to apply online is December 1 at 5:00PM.
For more information, visit ULI Boston/New England’s website.
