Zachary Davis: Shaping the Future of CRE Strategy 

As a recipient of Connect Money’s Next Gen Alternative Investment Award, Zachary Davis represents the new generation of leaders redefining how alternative assets—and particularly commercial real estate—create long-term value. His career began at the intersection of strategy, capital, and the built environment, driven by a fascination with how physical spaces shape behavior, business performance, and community outcomes. Early on, Zachary saw real estate not just as an asset class, but as a platform for innovation and impact. 

Over time, his vision evolved from pursuing growth and transactions to understanding alternatives as a dynamic ecosystem—one requiring creativity, adaptability, and integrated thinking. His work across project management, workplace strategy, and occupier services has reinforced a core belief: execution is where value is truly created. Today, his mission centers on helping clients make smarter, faster, and more resilient decisions by blending data with design and strategy with action. 

A standout example of Zachary’s next-generation thinking is his leadership in developing a national workplace strategy program for a multi-market professional services client post-COVID. By integrating design, data analytics, change management, and flexible execution, he helped the client avoid more than $15 million in projected spend, improve employee satisfaction, and shift real estate from a cost center to an engine of productivity and agility. 

At Avison Young, Zachary is shaping culture and strategy by championing responsiveness, clarity, and measurable business value. His leadership spans business development, cross-service collaboration, and mentoring teammates to think commercially and work proactively. He has supported more than $50 million in pursuits, strengthened AY’s national growth strategy, and elevated the firm’s presence through thought leadership and his ZDAY content series. 

Zachary’s forward-thinking approach continues to position him—and his organization—at the forefront of a rapidly evolving CRE and alternatives landscape.