Spotlight On: Elizabeth Goodwin, Senior Managing Director & Tennessee Market Leader, CBRE

October 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Elizabeth Goodwin, senior managing director and Tennessee market leader at CBRE, said that Nashville’s rapid growth is driving the company to evolve its strategies across sectors, with a strong emphasis on technology, data, and client-focused innovation. “We’re now aligning more closely with the growth and needs of Nashville by offering those services locally,” Goodwin shared.

What changes over the past year have had the most significant impact on your organization, and in what ways?

Nashville is full of opportunities, but it’s also evolving quickly. Nashville’s rapid growth, particularly in the tech sector, is a key focus for CBRE. Our recent “Scoring Tech Talent in 2025” report highlighted Nashville’s strong position, ranking it third in the nation for tech job growth.
Another unique growth opportunity exists within healthcare. Last year, we added Alan Kirby as a leader of our Healthcare Services Group in Nashville to help us navigate this complex industry.

Across the board, CBRE is seeing strong growth in capital markets and leasing. We’ve also expanded our property management team to address our clients’ evolving needs.

As Nashville continues to grow, how is CBRE adjusting its strategies to meet your clients’ evolving needs?

We work closely with our clients to help them adapt and thrive by leveraging our CBRE data, being creative, and tapping into CBRE’s impressive platform to deliver solutions that make sense for each client’s business. Balancing those priorities is always complex, but I enjoy it. Our goal is to help our clients navigate these changes with confidence and to position CBRE as a trusted partner that adds measurable value in every engagement.

Could you expand on what’s driving office leasing activity?

There’s a real desire to be in Tennessee, and Nashville in particular, which is drawing in more businesses. This is clearly reflected in the numbers; our Q2 Office report showed leasing volume more than doubled quarter-over-quarter to 1.3 million square feet, with three leases exceeding 100,000 square feet.

We’re also seeing the ‘Amazon effect’ at play. The presence of Amazon and other major companies is attracting a wave of related businesses, bringing with them a highly skilled workforce. This influx of talent further fuels Nashville’s growth.
Additionally, Nashville has a strong educational base, with universities like Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Lipscomb, as well as the University of Tennessee system across the state. We’re a hub for young professionals, not just across the Southeast but across the country. This influx of new talent is vital to filling our offices.

What trends are you seeing in investor interest and tenant demand?

We’re starting to see a real shift in multifamily. Interest rates have come down, and for the first time in years, institutional banks are lending again — we’re already seeing significant deals close with major bank financing behind them. At the same time, Nashville’s tenant demand is steady, with 80-plus people moving here every day. That combination of strong demand and fresh capital is driving new activity. To ensure we’re ready to support this momentum, we’ve strategically expanded our multifamily team to four dedicated professionals, backed by a strong operations staff.

What types of commercial assets are most in demand right now across the Tennessee markets you oversee?

Retail has been a bit of a surprise. After a challenging period during the early stages of COVID, we’re witnessing robust absorption as people return to dining, shopping, and engaging in activities.

Healthcare is becoming more retail-oriented, too, with minute clinics and therapy offices being incorporated into mixed-use developments. So, really, mixed-use is booming.

To expand on that, we’re seeing some really interesting trends emerge across the board. Data centers are a hot topic, and that’s not just a Tennessee phenomenon. We’re seeing significant investment and growth in that sector nationwide. The demand is incredibly high — we’re talking about substantial increases in supply, as you can imagine. What’s particularly exciting for Tennessee is our strong infrastructure. The robust power grid, thanks to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), is a huge draw for data center developers, which positions us well to capitalize on this growth.

How important are amenities and sustainability features in today’s leasing landscape?

Amenities are extremely important — just as much as sustainability is, but they’re more tenant-specific. For some companies, sustainability is built into their broader mission, but amenities tend to be the priority across the board.

Office tenants want Class A spaces. If they’re coming back into the office, they want a reason to be there: gyms, outdoor spaces, Wi-Fi-enabled patios, on-site cafés, convenient lunch options within easy walking distance, and even dry-cleaning services. 

Developers are retrofitting older buildings to add amenities that just weren’t considered important eight to 10 years ago. Now, they’re essential. 

For example, CBRE has a solution that centralizes everything from tenant services to building amenities through an app, improving efficiency and the tenant experience. This tool is part of our property management services and is currently being implemented in spaces such as Nashville Yards. It’s all about creating the kind of experience that makes people feel comfortable and productive.

Flexible workspaces have been a major trend over the last few years. Is that still a priority, and how are you advising clients on that front?

For clients, I recommend uniformity, having one standard office size rather than several. That’s a shift for law firms and banks, which traditionally use office size as a status symbol. Now, even senior professionals are opting for smaller offices in exchange for better shared amenities like lounges, collaborative areas, and high-quality furnishings.

Flexible workspace is still a major trend. Our own office is set up that way — we call it “hoteling.” No one has a permanent desk. There are open areas, huddle rooms, and small offices that anyone can reserve.

We even have executive offices available to all, regardless of title. Interestingly, those are the least used spaces because they feel too large or formal. People tend to prefer more intimate, efficient spaces.

Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for CBRE in Tennessee over the next few years?

Nashville is expanding rapidly, and so are we. The city has established itself on the national and international stage. We consistently rank among the top markets for investors across multiple sectors.

This recognition demands that we provide our clients with the same access to cutting-edge tools, data, and services found in major markets like New York, California, and Texas.

Tennessee hasn’t always had that exposure, not because we were excluded, but rather, we weren’t yet on the radar. Now, we are.

We’ve had tremendous support from local leadership over the past decade, including strong mayors and successful public-private partnerships, and now it’s time to build upon that foundation.

Personally, it’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of this growth. As a Nashville native, I’ve witnessed the growth firsthand. I’m fortunate to be in a position at CBRE where I can play even a small role in shaping its future. It’s an exciting time for both the city and our company.

Want more? Read the Invest: Nashville report.