#125 Sue Clayton - Senior Independent Advisor & Non Exec

Sue Clayton - Senior Independent Advisor & Non Exec

How do you stay at the top of your game across four decades in commercial real estate?

In this episode, I sit down with Sue Clayton, former Managing Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, board member, investor, adviser, and Co-Founder of Real Estate Balance - to break down a career built on trust, consistency, and integrity.

We cover how Sue rose through the ranks in a male-dominated industry, her approach to building long-term client relationships, and how she transitioned into a successful portfolio career after leaving CBRE.

Sue shares what it was like advising on billions of pounds of transactions, her board experience with companies like SEGRO, Blue Coast Capital and Helical, and why she’s passionate about driving greater inclusion across the industry.

If you care about leadership, longevity, and building trust this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered In This Episode:

* A 40-Year Career In Commercial Real Estate – From graduate at Richard Ellis to international CBRE board member.

* Building Trust in Brokerage – How she built a reputation through discretion, detail, and doing the right thing.

* Building CBRE Capital Markets – What it took to lead during mergers, acquisitions, and global expansion.

* Leadership Lessons – How to manage people, politics, and priorities

Why saying “no” to a deal can build more credibility than chasing fees.

* Transitioning to Board Roles – The skills and mindset shift needed to go from operator to advisor.

* What makes an effective Non-Exec in today’s market.

* Supporting the Next Generation – The story behind Real Estate Balance and Pathways to Property.

Oh, and one last thing…

In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? Don’t miss Sue’s answer - especially if you’re interested in long-term value and social impact.

Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Drop them in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.

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