2026 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders: Gary Pezza, DGNY Commercial

“Gary Pezza serves as the chief commercial associate at DGNY Commercial. In a career spanning over 3 decades, Gary has established himself as a leading figure in the commercial real estate industry. Gary has amassed pertinent knowledge and expertise in the field. Prior to DGNY Commercial, Gary was a senior director in the Capital Markets Group at Cushman and Wakefield.” 

How do you inspire, motivate, or mentor others within your organization?

It takes time to understand each individual with the intention of helping new brokers or protégés. Inspiring and mentoring new hires involves fostering an environment of support for continuous growth, establishing a clear vision, leading by example, and setting up a structured plan for them to follow. I have found it best to motivate through genuine recognition, create a tailored approach with constant feedback, and celebrate even minor wins to empower team members to own their goals.

What advice would you share with emerging professionals striving to become future leaders in commercial real estate?

I’d advise emerging professionals in commercial real estate (CRE) to prioritize networking, build strong relationships, master and utilize a CRM from day 1, earn the trust of their sphere of influence, and master financial as well as market knowledge. To understand the requirement of learning the many aspects of CRE, analytics, market dynamics, and advances in technology. Finally, the immense advantage of seeking mentorship(s) and, in the future, striving to become a mentor themselves.

What daily habit or routine helps you stay focused or motivated as a leader?

I find exercising regularly and consistently performing high-impact tasks get the desired results.