Tariffs are nothing new, but the dizzying rate at which tariffs have been imposed, paused, and reinstated has added further uncertainty to an already sensitive topic for consumers, retailers, and the economy as a whole. And hiring managers are feeling the ripple effects, too.

According to The Budget Lab at Yale, consumers are facing the highest overall average tariff rate since 1936, 14.7%, resulting in an average household income loss of $2,000. In addition to inflated costs, retailers are dealing with disruptions in inventory and supply chain, disrupting strategy, business planning — and for some, threatening survival.

As retailers rethink strategy for the coming year, the commercial real estate (CRE) industry waits with bated breath to learn the trickle-down impact. All this just as CRE was enjoying a robust post-pandemic momentum. CBRE’s Q1 2025 report announced a 14% growth in investment volume and significant improvements in lending. Now, tariff uncertainty threatens that recovery.

Tariffs and the surrounding market uncertainty call for brave, decisive leaders who can manage crises and thrive through change. The companies that emerge stronger won’t just survive this disruption but will use it to outmaneuver competitors who fail to pivot their leadership skills and remain paralyzed by indecision. 

Retail and Commercial Real Estate Challenges Amid Tariff-Driven Instability

Record-high CEO departures marked late 2024 and early 2025, with Commercial Observer reporting that commercial real estate is experiencing its “busiest era of big-name turnover in 20 years.” Investor scrutiny, an unpredictable market, and pressure to keep pace with change are driving the spike.

That leadership instability compounds the challenges already facing the commercial real estate sector — from rising interest rates and declining building occupancy to a shrinking leadership pipeline. According to Deloitte, 40% of the current CRE workforce is approaching retirement, creating a critical need to develop the next generation of leaders.

Tariffs only add to the uncertainty, arriving just as industries across the board are experiencing a wave of leadership exits.

Retail is facing similar pressure. Leaders in the sector are navigating volatile cost increases from tariffed imports, erratic consumer spending, and inventory and supply chain challenges — all while losing the experienced executives who might otherwise guide them through it.

Both CRE and retail are facing a crisis of leadership continuity and availability at a moment when the market demands the most sophisticated leadership capabilities in decades. Now more than ever, succession planning and strong leadership pipelines aren’t optional — they’re essential.

How Tariffs Reshape Leadership Demands in Retail and CRE 

In-demand commercial real estate and retail leadership skills have been evolving rapidly. Traditional leadership capabilities are no longer enough—they’re just the baseline.

Today’s real estate and retail leaders require future-ready skills, including the integration of AI and technology, remote team management, omnichannel experience management, multi-generational engagement, environmental and social responsibility, data fluency, and agile decision-making. 

Layer in tariff uncertainty, and the leadership skillset grows even more complex.

• Crisis management and resilience: Leading through serial disruptions while maintaining the trust of teams, stakeholders, and consumers. 
  
  

• Policy fluency and government relations: Understanding of trade policies and regulations and operational impact.
  
  

• Adaptive agility: Pivoting rapidly with both a growth mindset and a protective eye as market conditions shift.
  
  

• • Advanced scenario planning: Devising multiple contingency plans to proactively predict and stress-test against various policy outcomes.
    
    
  • Cross-functional mindset: Making decisions across business functions, including supply chain, finance, real estate, and operations, to pivot as policies change. 
    
    

• Competitive opportunism: Seizing market share while competitors are slowed by indecision or uncertainty. 

Finding leaders who combine traditional and technological expertise with crisis management and policy management skills has become progressively difficult for retail and commercial real estate leadership organizations.

4 Benefits of Partnering with an Executive Recruiter During Tariff Uncertainty

Even in steady markets, recruiting top leadership is no easy feat. Finding the right people to direct an organization is critical for success and often benefits from partnering with an executive search firm’s deep, data-driven, and personalized approach.

And in volatile economic times, when experienced leaders are exiting the market and advanced leadership skills are in increasingly high demand, the expertise and industry connections of an executive recruiter can be invaluable.

Cross-functional leadership connections

During uncertain times, the best leaders aren’t job hunting. They’re busy solving problems and managing crises. Executive recruiters access passive talent across CRE, retail, and other industries, connecting with candidates who have specialized expertise in supply chain disruption, regulatory navigation, and crisis finance. 

Crisis-tested talent identification

Executive recruiters can distinguish between leaders who talk about crisis management and those who actually deliver results under real-life pressure. Using methods that go beyond resumes and credentials, an executive search firm can evaluate a candidate’s track record navigating trade policy changes, regulatory disputes, and supply chain challenges. These advanced, practical skills can mean the difference between surviving and excelling during market downturns. 

Speed to market advantage

In fast-changing, volatile markets, timing is everything. While competitors get bogged down in a lengthy internal recruiting process, organizations that partner with executive recruiters capture talent quickly and keep current leadership focused on operations rather than recruiting. 

Succession planning expertise

For businesses with strong leadership continuity, succession planning is never optional. To thrive in complex and uncertain economic environments, it’s absolutely critical. Executive recruiters work with organizations to establish proactive leadership pipelines, ensuring businesses remain securely managed through planned and unplanned departures, as well as disruptions and volatility. 

Final Thoughts

Tariff uncertainty is a critical obstacle today, but it also represents the ongoing economic disruptions that have reshaped leadership requirements over time. The companies that consistently survive and thrive don’t just weather these storms; they strategically upgrade their leadership power.

Executive recruiting partnerships offer the stability and expertise that organizations can rely on during economic disruptions, providing crisis-specific benefits, a confidential search process, proven evaluation methods, an enhanced candidate experience, and seamless onboarding and leadership transition support.

Uncertainty takes many forms and is a constant in business. Partnering with the right executive recruiting firm is a step toward building resilience and competitive advantage. 

FAQs

How do tariffs impact retail and commercial real estate leadership hiring?

Tariffs complicate existing challenges, such as interest rate volatility and leadership transitions. With CEO turnover at record highs, companies must compete for scarce executive talent while managing tariff-induced supply chain disruptions and unpredictable costs. This makes talent acquisition increasingly complex, requiring specialized recruiting expertise to secure the right talent quickly

What leadership skills are most important during economic uncertainty? 

A commercial real estate or retail leader must possess all the foundational skills to excel in their industry, as well as critical skills to operate during economic uncertainty. From crisis management and resilience to policy navigation and strategic pivoting, a CRE or retail leader must be a multifaceted decision-maker and competitive opportunist to advance their organization during volatile periods.