GRI InstituteKey CRE insights and takeaways from “She Builds India 2025”
The women leading Indian real estate share their perspectives on workplace trends, investment strategies, and GCC expansion
August 27, 2025Real Estate
Written by Isabella Toledo
The GRI Institute’s She Builds India 2025 forum, co-hosted by CorporatEdge at their Prestige Trade Tower in Bangalore, gathered top female leaders from the Indian real estate industry for a series of high-impact discussions on the future of offices, evolving investment trends, emerging asset classes, and the rise of global capability centres (GCCs).
Evolving workspace trends
India is rapidly emerging as a global powerhouse in commercial real estate, fuelled by robust infrastructure, supportive government policies, and a highly skilled workforce. Competitive costs and the rapid growth of technology have positioned the country as a prime destination for GCCs and multinational corporations.
The office market has reached record highs in leasing activity, with GCCs leading much of the expansion. Despite the global shift to hybrid models, India’s office-first culture of three to four days in-office is sustaining robust leasing demand as occupiers face space constraints.
Sustainability is also reshaping the sector, with green-certified workspaces gaining prominence as both investors and occupiers increasingly prioritise facilities that align with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.
Meanwhile, digitisation and automation are transforming operations. From IoT-enabled sensors and smart building management systems to AI-powered predictive maintenance and space optimisation, technology is turning offices into agile, self-learning environments designed for efficiency and adaptability.
Investment strategies
A decisive factor in investment decisions remains the choice of partner, with governance, track record, and intent proving critical. While institutions tend to favour established developers, new entrants that demonstrate integrity and long-term commitment can also gain access to opportunities, with the “three Cs” - character, collateral, and capacity - serving as guiding principles.
A fourth C - capital - was observed to be more accessible than ever, spanning debt, equity, and structured finance. Domestic liquidity has strengthened at the same time as exit routes have broadened through mechanisms such as buybacks, listings, and institutional acquisitions, offering investors a much greater degree of flexibility.
Yet challenges persist despite these favourable shifts, with execution risk, regulatory delays and evolving policy frameworks remaining key barriers, while global capital costs and competing markets are prompting investors to reassess risk-return expectations - making governance and credibility more decisive than ever.
GCC expansion
India is projected to add more than a thousand new GCCs over the next three years in a new wave defined by purposeful, modular expansion, with flexible and scalable spaces replacing sprawling campuses and creating opportunities for co-working models and customised workplace solutions.
To meet this evolving demand, developers are increasingly turning to build-to-suit models - a tailored approach that addresses specific requirements in security, design, and technology. The long-term commitments these models encourage can add stability, attract institutional capital, and generate concentrated demand clusters in key commercial markets.
At the same time, attention is shifting towards Tier 2 cities, supported by favourable government policies. However, their ability to compete with established hubs will depend on building robust infrastructure and technology ecosystems to attract and retain digital talent, ensuring Bangalore, Hyderabad, NCR, and Mumbai continue to dominate in the near term.
Emerging asset classes
While traditional formats such as residential and commercial real estate continue to dominate, interest was noted to be growing steadily in emerging segments including senior living, co-working, and co-living.
However, developers stress that innovation in these areas requires greater institutional support. Regulatory and financing frameworks often lag behind market needs, and streamlining approvals while establishing structured funding parameters could accelerate experimentation, diversification, and long-term growth in the sector.
The GRI Institute’s She Builds India 2025 forum, co-hosted by CorporatEdge at their Prestige Trade Tower in Bangalore, gathered top female leaders from the Indian real estate industry for a series of high-impact discussions on the future of offices, evolving investment trends, emerging asset classes, and the rise of global capability centres (GCCs).
Evolving workspace trends
India is rapidly emerging as a global powerhouse in commercial real estate, fuelled by robust infrastructure, supportive government policies, and a highly skilled workforce. Competitive costs and the rapid growth of technology have positioned the country as a prime destination for GCCs and multinational corporations.
The office market has reached record highs in leasing activity, with GCCs leading much of the expansion. Despite the global shift to hybrid models, India’s office-first culture of three to four days in-office is sustaining robust leasing demand as occupiers face space constraints.
Sustainability is also reshaping the sector, with green-certified workspaces gaining prominence as both investors and occupiers increasingly prioritise facilities that align with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.
Meanwhile, digitisation and automation are transforming operations. From IoT-enabled sensors and smart building management systems to AI-powered predictive maintenance and space optimisation, technology is turning offices into agile, self-learning environments designed for efficiency and adaptability.
Investment strategies
A decisive factor in investment decisions remains the choice of partner, with governance, track record, and intent proving critical. While institutions tend to favour established developers, new entrants that demonstrate integrity and long-term commitment can also gain access to opportunities, with the “three Cs” - character, collateral, and capacity - serving as guiding principles.
A fourth C - capital - was observed to be more accessible than ever, spanning debt, equity, and structured finance. Domestic liquidity has strengthened at the same time as exit routes have broadened through mechanisms such as buybacks, listings, and institutional acquisitions, offering investors a much greater degree of flexibility.
Yet challenges persist despite these favourable shifts, with execution risk, regulatory delays and evolving policy frameworks remaining key barriers, while global capital costs and competing markets are prompting investors to reassess risk-return expectations - making governance and credibility more decisive than ever.
GCC expansion
India is projected to add more than a thousand new GCCs over the next three years in a new wave defined by purposeful, modular expansion, with flexible and scalable spaces replacing sprawling campuses and creating opportunities for co-working models and customised workplace solutions.
To meet this evolving demand, developers are increasingly turning to build-to-suit models - a tailored approach that addresses specific requirements in security, design, and technology. The long-term commitments these models encourage can add stability, attract institutional capital, and generate concentrated demand clusters in key commercial markets.
At the same time, attention is shifting towards Tier 2 cities, supported by favourable government policies. However, their ability to compete with established hubs will depend on building robust infrastructure and technology ecosystems to attract and retain digital talent, ensuring Bangalore, Hyderabad, NCR, and Mumbai continue to dominate in the near term.
Emerging asset classes
While traditional formats such as residential and commercial real estate continue to dominate, interest was noted to be growing steadily in emerging segments including senior living, co-working, and co-living.
However, developers stress that innovation in these areas requires greater institutional support. Regulatory and financing frameworks often lag behind market needs, and streamlining approvals while establishing structured funding parameters could accelerate experimentation, diversification, and long-term growth in the sector.