Celeste Tanner will be the first to tell you that real growth happens just outside your comfort zone.
Tanner is NAIOP’s 2026 Chairman and co-founder, president and chief development officer of Confluent Development, based in Denver, Colorado. She joined NAIOP Inside CRE podcast with NAIOP President and CEO Mark Selvitelli, CAE, to share the leadership principles that have shaped her career in the collaborative world of commercial real estate.
1. Opportunities lie outside your comfort zone
In commercial real estate development, where projects require bold decisions, Tanner said going beyond what feels safe opens doors to opportunities you might otherwise never reach.
“If you shoot for the moon,” she said, “where you land is still further away than if you had never tried.”
This mindset not only shaped her own career trajectory, but also helped her inspire others to make their own leaps. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about having the courage to try.
2. View leadership as a team sport
Few industries are as interdisciplinary as development. Tanner painted a picture: a general contractor, a banker, an architect, a civil engineer – all driven by different priorities, all at the same table. Her job as a developer? Make sure they get on the same metaphorical bus, heading in the same direction.
“There’s an art to that, and it’s something I really enjoy,” Tanner said. “Being able to lead that team and empower them.”
3. Trust people – and your judgement
For Tanner, success comes from bringing the best people together and “trusting them implicitly; fully empowers them’.
She encourages leaders to ask questions without hesitation, admit when they don’t know, question assumptions and ignore boasting.
“And at the end of it all, you have to have 100% confidence in making a decision based on about 70% of the information,” she said. “If you can do that and embrace it, I think you have a path to success.”
4. Being deeply involved: The value of showing up
Tanner’s involvement with NAIOP began with uncertainty – and a little fear. When she walked into her first event at age 26, surrounded by hundreds of strangers, she felt like an outsider. Instead of quitting, she tried again.
“I ended up joining a committee within the NAIOP Colorado chapter and absolutely loved it. It was a great experience just being able to meet people in the industry…and it really helped me grow and find people that I could ultimately make deals with,” she said.
5. Innovation is not optional
“We are at a moment where not just AI, but AI-powered technology will be the linchpin that allows us to sustain success in the way we build commercial spaces,” said Tanner. Traditionally, risk-averse developers must now adopt new technologies to remain efficient and competitive. Over the next five years, companies that do not adapt risk being left behind.
“I’m also really excited that as people start to adopt and embrace and learn what works and what doesn’t, our members can go to the other 21,000 members in North America and share, learn and identify best practices,” she added.
6. Say yes to what creates value
From her work at the local chapter to her involvement with NAIOP Corporate, Tanner continued to say yes as each step brought valuable relationships, knowledge and a stronger sense of connection to the industry.
“If you continue to see so much value,” she said, “how can you not say yes?”
Tanner’s story reminds us that leadership is not defined by title or tenure. It is built through curiosity, collaboration and a willingness to participate.
Listen to the full podcast episode online.
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