2017's Best Boss in Commercial Real Estate: Avison Young's Mark Rose

Most individuals who've risen to leadership status share similar qualities: ambition, financial prowess, knowledge and connections—you name it. Yet the best ones—the leaders that head the most successful teams, that have the greatest reputations in the business, that are held on pedestals by employees and colleagues alike—truly stand out, whether they're social butterflies or humble shepherds that hang out under the radar.

Call it chutzpah, call it charisma, call it magnetism. Whatever you call it, the 25 leaders on the following pages have a certain “X Factor” that not only makes people want to work for them, but also to spend time with them, strive toward collective goals and, often, to be like them. That mysterious set of qualities drives innovation, loyalty and success for these individuals, their firms and the people with which they surround themselves.

First, a bit on the process that led up to here. To compile this year's collection of commercial real estate's best bosses the editors of Forum first collected some 200 nominations from our readers. After culling the entries by more than three-quarters, we sent out a poll to our readers—particularly, the staff and colleagues that work for and with the finalists.