Conrad Woody, managing partner, Washington office head, U.S. Association and Corporate Affairs practice at Odgers, sat down for a video interview at Nareit’s REITwise: 2026 Educational Conference in Hollywood, Florida, March 24-26.
Woody emphasized that organizations must prioritize AI adoption, leadership development, and strong change management to stay competitive. He highlighted the challenge of “creating and leading an organization in a world that doesn’t yet exist,” stressing the need to build adaptable talent pipelines while managing human capital risk.
On succession planning, Woody urges companies to be intentional and measurable, tying leadership development directly to compensation to avoid it being overlooked amid growing complexity.
To attract younger talent, especially Gen Z, he recommends experiential engagement and modern recruitment strategies that emphasize growth and exposure. Ultimately, companies must invest in both internal development and external hiring—because “the people that work there are the greatest evidence that the strategies work,” he said.