2026 Women in Commercial Real Estate: Stephanie Sabatini, Brand Urban

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

I led an advisory project for a beloved London-based operator entering New York City, an opportunity to bring our home market to life for those who don’t live and breathe it daily. The work showcased how real estate strategy, our core expertise, is the culmination of our brand immersion process. We studied consumer trends, lifestyle and dining habits, competitors, and the real estate environment through surveys, interviews, and proprietary intelligence. Helping an international operator see NYC through our eyes gave us fresh perspective, uncovering new insights into our changing home market.

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

Climb the right hill: Find the problem that excites you and the people you want to solve it with. Early in your career, you may be focused on building technical skills and foundational experience, and that’s valuable. But your career is long, and the quicker you can identify the hill you want to climb, the better. For me, that meant leaving real estate investing and building something new with Taryn Brandes and the Brand Urban team. Finding the right challenge, with the right people, is when your career begins to feel truly your own.