How a partnership with ASU is transforming Hines’ workforce for a greener future

In today’s world, the need for sustainable building and development has never been more urgent. Hines, a leader in real estate investment, development and management, is taking actionable steps to show its commitment to addressing climate change within the real estate industry. Through their partnership with ASU CareerCatalyst, Hines is empowering its workforce with targeted Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) training, paving the way for a greener future.

Hines aimed to design a program that would educate and inspire their employees about the company’s firm-wide ESG initiatives, including reducing overall energy consumption, lowering the company’s carbon footprint, and improving environmental performance. The Hines team needed a scalable solution to educate the entire company on their carbon reduction goals and deliver foundational knowledge in carbon emissions.

Creating curriculum tailored to Hines

ASU, home to the nation’s first School of Sustainability, collaborated with Hines ESG stakeholders to create a customized ESG curriculum. The virtual curriculum encouraged discussion and ideation with Hines’ ESG leadership and ASU professors through breakout sessions and team projects.

ASU utilized its research-backed instructional design practices, incorporating interactive learning objects, readings, and videos to enhance the training with the most recent ESG content. Topics ranged from community impact and social programs to setting science-based targets and achieving net zero operational carbon at Hines properties by 2040.

Two programs were developed to separately educate key individuals within Hines about current initiatives and climate commitments. Carbon 101 was rolled out to all employees, while the ESG Ambassador program focused on a select group within the organization. Hines executives reflected on how these programs have not only enhanced individual skills but also accelerated progress towards broader sustainability goals. Employees learned the fundamentals of carbon – such as the difference between operational and embodied carbon – and Hines’ approach to reducing carbon emissions in our real estate portfolio.

The partnership with ASU CareerCatalyst is focused on core ESG concepts and on their practical application. “We tried to create a basic understanding of ESG and how ESG impacts everything we do. It allowed us to tap into the network ASU has and it allowed ASU to understand Hines’s real-world business applications,” says Jorge Lopez, Senior Associate, Global ESG. 

Breaking ground on the training program

The built environment is responsible for 39% of all carbon generated across the world, which is why creating an ESG program was paramount for Hines. “The first thing we decided to do is to make sure we’re all speaking the same language in terms of what is carbon. We wanted to make sure that everyone in the firm was very aware of the difference between operational carbon and embodied carbon,” says Stacie Livingston, Manager of Environmental Strategies.  

Hines launched a comprehensive training program led by internal ESG Ambassadors. The program included a 6-week live training featuring presentations, working sessions, and application projects. Hines went a step further and enhanced its internal learning portal with on-demand ESG resources, empowering employees in their professional development and sustainability knowledge. The initiative successfully trained 32 ambassadors and is now ready for scalability and repetition across the entire Hines employee base, encompassing nearly 5,000 individuals. The first cohort created both plans for how ESG innovation could be better implemented at the firm, as well as how individuals plan on integrating ESG into their day-to-day work.

“Anytime you have to create change at scale, it really takes a global approach. The educational foundation that we’re laying with Arizona State University is going to help all our employees gain the skills they need,” says Chris Rector, Co-CEO, Southwest Region. By investing in education and fostering a culture of sustainability, Hines continues to set new benchmarks in the real estate industry, driving positive change for generations to come.

Read Hines’ 2023 ESG Report for the latest on the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance efforts.

Learn more about customized workforce development with ASU.