On May 29, the Steers Center for Global Real Assets convened select industry leaders, board members, alumni and academic partners at the New York City offices of Cohen & Steers for a day-long strategic planning conference titled Project Gretzky. The gathering marked a pivotal moment in the Center’s ongoing evolution from a traditional commercial real estate focus toward a broader, more forward-looking academic program rooted in real assets.

Named for hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s philosophy of “skating to where the puck is going,” the event challenged participants to think ahead — well beyond current trends — and explore how the Center can stay ahead of market shifts shaping the future of real estate, infrastructure, energy, and technology.

The session focused on refining the Center’s purpose and aligning its activities with emerging industry trends and demands. Through a series of focused breakout sessions and working groups, participants explored how to elevate the Center’s academic offerings in real assets, deepen partnerships with industry leaders, and enhance the student experience — while staying rooted in Georgetown’s Jesuit values and our mission to educate the whole person.

Key Outcomes and Areas of Alignment

Participants left the day with a renewed sense of clarity and shared purpose around the Center’s strategic direction. One central outcome was the articulation of a new trial mission statement focused on preparing students to lead in the evolving real assets economy through cross-disciplinary education and innovation. The group affirmed that the Center’s shift toward real assets — including infrastructure and energy — is not incremental but transformative, positioning Steers as a potential first mover among peer academic institutions.

The Steers Center for Global Real Assets’ purpose is to provide foundational and cross-disciplinary education and experience to cultivate future industry leaders and innovators for the new real assets economy.

Discussion also emphasized the importance of experiential learning as a hallmark of the Steers Center approach. Participants called for a stronger integration of emerging technologies — particularly AI and data analytics — into both curricular and co-curricular offerings, while also reaffirming the value of human-centered skills such as collaboration, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making. The combination of these two approaches will shape Steers’ students into highly sought-after graduates as they enter the workplace of the future.

The conference also highlighted the need for global relevance. Attendees stressed that future leaders in real assets should be equipped to operate across borders, adapt to diverse regulatory and cultural environments, and contribute to the development of resilient and sustainable infrastructure worldwide.

Project Gretzky underscored the power of convening cross-sector voices to shape the Center’s trajectory. As the global business landscape continues to evolve, the Steers Center remains committed to preparing principled, forward-looking leaders who understand not just where the puck is — but where it’s going.