St. Louis Business 500: Q&A with David Steinbach, JLL

Over nearly two decades at JLL, Steinbach has watched evolving work patterns reshape the modern office. One of the biggest challenges he’s encountered is the shift in demand for office space as companies reevaluate their space needs. “This evolution has been driven by the rise of remote work, hybrid models, and changing employee expectations, forcing us to rapidly adapt our strategies and offerings,” Steinbach says. “This shift has pushed us to enhance our expertise in areas like space utilization analysis, flexible office solutions, and technology integration, all while managing the financial implications of changing lease structures and occupancy rates.”

2025 QUESTIONNAIRE

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? I’m particularly excited about the heightened awareness of health and wellness for employees in the workplace. This shift is driving innovative office designs, advanced air filtration systems, and the integration of biophilic elements, all of which contribute to creating healthier, more productive work environments. We’re excited about the opportunity to guide clients through this evolution, helping them implement wellness-focused strategies that not only attract and retain top talent but also improve overall employee satisfaction and productivity.

If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? If I could change one thing about our industry, it would be to implement stricter requirements for property owners to maintain adequate capital reserves for both operational expenses and new investment opportunities. This change would improve the stability and sustainability of the commercial real estate sector. Mandating robust capital reserves would safeguard against market volatility, ensuring that properties remain well-maintained and operational even during economic downturns. It would also enable owners to seize new investment opportunities swiftly, fostering industry growth and innovation.

What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? The shift in demand for office space as companies are trying to understand their new space needs and reconfigurations. This evolution has been driven by the rise of remote work, hybrid models, and changing employee expectations, forcing us to rapidly adapt our strategies and offerings. This shift has pushed us to enhance our expertise in areas like space utilization analysis, flexible office solutions, and technology integration, all while managing the financial implications of changing lease structures and occupancy rates.

MENTORS & PEERS

What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? Everyone makes mistakes. It’s what you do after the mistake that matters.

What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? I’d love to see more companies invest in the greater downtown area to stimulate more growth, activity, and foot traffic.

BACKGROUND

Where were you born? St. Louis

What was your childhood aspiration? I wanted to play in the NBA.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? I began my career as a consultant at Accenture. The biggest learning I took away was that communication with clients is key to success, which is something that remains incredibly relevant and applicable in my career today.

What educational degrees do you hold, and where were they earned? BS in Finance from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? I’d like to coach basketball.

What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? Trattoria Marcella. I always order the rigatoni with shrimp and sundried tomato sauce.

What is one item you recently crossed off your bucket list? I recently took my wife to Europe over the summer.