HMG Strategy CEO Hunter Muller’s discussion with the HMG Executive Leadership Spotlight, Helane Stein, Senior Vice President and CIO of Brixmor Property Group, shares insights into her leadership style, the company’s approach to technology, and the importance of partnerships and cybersecurity. Stein expresses her gratitude for being recognized as the HMG Midcap CIO of the Year, acknowledging the challenging times faced by leaders today.

Stein’s leadership philosophy centers on being a visionary leader who understands the business’s core functions and can articulate a clear vision across all organizational levels. She emphasizes the need for technology alignment with business goals and the importance of embracing change. Stein advocates for partnering with internal innovators and leveraging champions to drive the adoption of new technologies.

When discussing technology implementation, Stein stresses the importance of user engagement and adoption. Brixmor forms cross-functional teams to champion new technologies, ensuring diverse backgrounds and skill levels are represented to facilitate adoption. Stein provides an overview of Brixmor Property Group, a real estate investment trust with 362 shopping centers and 62 million square feet of retail space across the U.S. With about 500 employees, the company relies heavily on technology to meet growing demands, including the integration of AI.

Brixmor follows a “crawl, walk, run” approach to technology projects, starting with small proof of concepts and pilots. This iterative method allows for adjustments and rapid failure if necessary, ensuring only the most viable projects proceed to full-scale implementation. Stein highlights a current AI project where this approach is being applied.

Partnerships are crucial for Brixmor, especially in light of new cybersecurity regulations. Stein explains that a failure on the part of a partner can directly impact Brixmor, making a thorough vetting process essential. Contractual synchronization, the right to audit vendors, and ensuring partners notify Brixmor of any incidents are critical components of their partnership strategy. Brixmor also participates in partners’ user panels to influence their roadmaps, ensuring alignment with Brixmor’s strategic goals.

Cybersecurity is a top priority for Stein, who reports quarterly to the audit committee on the company’s cyber roadmap and any relevant incidents. She underscores the importance of an empathetic leadership style in building a high-performing team. By leading with empathy, Stein creates an environment of trust, ensuring team members feel valued and supported, which drives commitment and performance.

About Brixmore Property Group
Brixmor (NYSE: BRX) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates a high-quality, national portfolio of open-air shopping centers. Its 360 retail centers comprise approximately 64 million square feet of prime retail space in established trade areas. The Company strives to own and operate shopping centers that reflect Brixmor’s vision “to be the center of the communities we serve” and are home to a diverse mix of thriving national, regional and local retailers. Brixmor is a proud real estate partner to over 5,000 retailers including The TJX Companies, The Kroger Co., Publix Super Markets and Ross Stores.

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