The Crexi Commercial Real Estate Podcast | CRE Insights & Strategies

Petra Durnin: You Don't Need More Tech — You Need Better Data

In this episode, Petra Durnin, a veteran CRE researcher and tech‑to‑impact strategist, explains why the industry’s biggest hurdle isn’t more tools but cleaner, more integrated data. She walks through her career trajectory, from a temp analyst to leading data and product strategy at CBRE, Raises, and JLL, highlighting how solid data foundations enable better broker decisions and successful AI adoption. Durnin stresses that AI cannot fix bad data, and that firms must break down silos, invest in data infrastructure, and treat technology as a strategic investment rather than an expense. Her contrarian view is that curiosity‑driven research teams are the connective tissue that will shape the next era of commercial real estate.