Leadership, Sponsorship, and Representation

Have you ever wondered what it takes to run technology for one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the world? That question shapes my conversation with Yao Morin, Global CTO at JLL, as we look at how AI is changing the places where we work, shop, and gather.

Real estate may seem traditional from the outside, yet inside JLL the pace is intense. With more than 5 billion square feet under management and huge volumes of daily activity, the pressure on property teams is real and the limits of manual work are easy to see.

Yao explains how this reality led to the creation of Property Assistant, JLL's new AI solution built on JLL Falcon. Falcon acts as the company's enterprise AI foundation, giving teams a secure and scalable way to use data across global operations. She describes how the platform hides complexity so developers and property teams can work with AI without thinking about which model sits behind it.

We talk through everyday examples, like overcrowded meeting rooms and confusing layouts, that the assistant can flag and address through recommendations drawn from live sensor data.

The assistant goes far beyond space planning. It helps teams understand rising tenant concerns, patterns in work orders, and hidden risks before they grow into larger operational issues.

Yao sees AI as a partner that handles heavy data processing so people can focus on the messy, human context. That balance is central to how JLL builds its tools, and she explains why this approach gives property teams more confidence and clarity in fast-changing environments.

We also explore how AI is influencing the future design of buildings. As hybrid work, flexible retail, and rising industrial needs continue to shift demand, AI can gather layouts, analyze usage, and offer guidance at a speed traditional methods cannot match.

This creates a continuous feedback loop that helps teams adjust space before frustrations grow. For Yao, it is a way to bring real-time understanding into a sector that once relied on long cycles and guesswork.

Security surfaces often in our conversation. Yao details how Falcon enforces monitoring, privacy controls, and consistency across the company, which is vital when working with sensitive client data across many regions. A centralized platform allows JLL to invest deeply in safeguards rather than spreading risk across scattered tools. She highlights how trust sits at the center of the brand and why it shapes every AI decision they make.

As we shift toward the future, Yao shares how JLL is expanding its pipeline to more than fifty AI assistants aimed at productivity, client insight, and sustainability. She gives examples of tools that adjust energy usage and support portfolio planning, offering a view into how AI will support both performance and environmental goals. It is clear that AI has moved from experimentation to daily use inside JLL, with real business impact already taking shape.

The episode closes with a powerful reflection on leadership and representation. Yao talks openly about her own journey, the weight of visibility, and how she learned to turn moments of feeling out of place into motivation. She explains why active sponsorship matters, why belonging is a measurable business priority, and how diverse viewpoints reduce blind spots in product design. Her message is heartfelt, practical, and filled with hope for the next generation of leaders.

As you listen, I would love to know which part of Yao's story stays with you. Do you see AI changing your own workplace or the spaces you pass through every day? And how do you think better representation shapes the products we build? Share your thoughts and join the conversation.

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