About

Think Beyond the Ask

Kay Barrett is Global Head of Space Management, Planning & Occupancy (SPO) within Global Occupier Services at Cushman & Wakefield. She leads a practice of approximately 500 professionals worldwide, delivering a service model she created to address increasingly complex occupancy challenges and help organizations take a more integrated, data-led approach to workplace performance. Her practice connects strategy with execution, bringing together trusted spatial data, planning intelligence and operational discipline to turn occupancy strategy into achievable results.

During her 28 years with the firm, Kay has built a reputation for identifying gaps and creating solutions to fill them. She brought project management in-house when many considered the move too risky and helped establish SPO at a time when the discipline was still emerging within the industry. 

Her approach starts with looking beyond the immediate request. Rather than focusing only on the question a client brings forward, Kay works to understand what they ultimately want to achieve—and what may be standing in the way. She encourages clients to define success on their own terms, rather than measuring themselves against an industry average. She helps move occupancy planning from reactive reporting toward predictive advisory, grounded in trusted spatial data.

Where Kay Brings Smart Advice

Kay helps global occupiers turn workplace and occupancy data into better real estate decisions. Her work improves portfolio performance, makes spaces work harder, and creates workplaces that better support people and business needs. She helps clients move from more data to greater confidence, translating complex occupancy information into clear, defensible action. 

• Space management, planning and occupancy solutions
• Spatial data governance, demand forecasting, scenario planning and move services
• Management of design solutions for brand and standards alignment
• Alignment of real estate and enterprise objectives into the built environment for occupiers

How Kay Works

She thinks beyond the ask. 
Kay looks beyond the immediate request to understand what clients are ultimately trying to achieve. 

She builds what does not yet exist. 
She identifies gaps and creates new approaches when existing solutions are not enough. Kay is not afraid to disrupt the industry.

She defines success around the client. 
Rather than relying on industry benchmarks alone, Kay helps clients establish goals that reflect their own priorities and objectives. She turns insight into action. Kay connects trusted data, business priorities and execution to help clients make confident decisions.

She turns data into decisions.
Kay combines trusted information, business judgment and operational insight to help clients understand their options and act with confidence.

Clients

Key Clients include Bank of America, Boeing, Standard Chartered, MasterCard, HSBC, Humana, Edward Jones, H&R Block, Micron, MITRE, and The UPS Store.

Education

Kay holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, and a Master of Business Administration. She is certified by the National Certification of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and is a credentialed CDP member (Certified Development, Design and Construction Professional).

Community Involvement

Kay actively participates with CoreNet Global as a Summit Reviewer, is a volunteer member of First Baptist Academy Technology Panel and Yearbook Editor, host to Interior Design Mock Interview Day, and a member of Bethany Columbia.

Affiliations

Kay is an active member of CoreNet Global, and Maryville University Alumni Board and , School of Interior Design Board.