2026 Women in Commercial Real Estate: Ilana Ettinger, North Bridge

What was the most rewarding project or deal you’ve worked on in the past 12 months, and why? 

The most rewarding deal this year was financing the full electrification of Herald Towers, the first multifamily C-PACE transaction ever completed in New York City. The three-tower apartment complex spans nearly one million s/f across 690 apartments and North Bridge’s financing allowed JEMB Realty to replace aging heating and cooling systems with electrified, high-efficiency equipment, cutting emissions and operating expenses while raising long-term asset value. The transaction signals a growing institutional acceptance of C-PACE as a credit solution and demonstrates how New York City’s C-PACE program can finance LL97 compliance and support significant building improvement projects.

What leadership lesson has made the greatest impact on your career?

Be entrepreneurial in everything you do, regardless of your title. Early in my career I learned not to wait to be handed an assignment. The people who move fastest are the ones who look for where they can add value and then go execute. The harder half of that lesson: never bring a problem to the table without a possible solution attached. Anyone can identify what’s broken. What people remember is who showed up ready to fix it. That instinct built my career, and it’s the first thing I look for in the people we hire at North Bridge.

What trend or change in commercial real estate do you believe will have the biggest impact over the next five years?

Artificial intelligence will have the greatest impact on commercial real estate over the next five years. It will transform how deals are sourced, underwritten and executed, while enabling faster analysis of market trends and more efficient building operations, maintenance and energy use. Just as important, AI will reshape demand by driving office leasing, changing how companies use space and influencing where people choose to live, work and invest.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women entering commercial real estate?

Surround yourself with people you trust and champion each other’s success. Lean on that network for advice, support, and perspective. And don’t shy away from opportunities that push you; those challenges often shape the most defining moments in your career.