Zeynep A. Talu-Balci | Let's Connect on LinkedIn
Transforming Commercial Real Estate and Championing Affordable Housing
“People do business with those they trust. If you don’t have relationships, you don’t have a business. Period.”
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Meet Josie Legido Correa – a woman who didn’t just navigate the commercial real estate industry but shaped it from the inside out. As the President of CREW Miami and Director of Business Development at JWR Construction, she’s at the forefront of driving economic growth, expanding opportunities for women in commercial real estate, and reshaping the conversation around affordable housing.
In 2025, Josie took the helm as President of CREW Miami, where she is making bold moves to support women in CRE and push forward solutions for Miami’s urgent housing challenges. Her career is a testament to the fact that success isn’t always about following a straight path – it’s about recognizing opportunity, making the right connections, and knowing how to turn introductions into impact.
I am proud to introduce Josie to you.
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Some people build careers. Others build legacies. Josie? She’s built something even more powerful – relationships that last a lifetime.
Her name carries weight in Miami’s commercial real estate circles, not just because of the deals she’s facilitated or the projects she’s helped bring to life, but because of the way she’s done it. There’s an old-school charm to her approach, a rare mix of sincerity, grit, and an unwavering belief that when you help others succeed, success inevitably finds its way back to you.
For years, she’s been the go-to person for developers, investors, and business owners looking to navigate the complexities of Miami’s urban landscape. She has worked with city officials, lobbied for infrastructure improvements, and facilitated business deals that have reshaped entire neighborhoods. Now, as the 2025 President of CREW Miami, she’s on a mission to elevate women in commercial real estate, ensuring that the next generation of leaders doesn’t just have a seat at the table but is leading the conversation.
But Josie’s rise to prominence didn’t follow a conventional path. She wasn’t born into real estate. She didn’t come from a family of developers or landowners. Instead, she built her career on instinct, relationships, and an uncanny ability to see opportunities where others saw obstacles.
Her story isn’t just one of professional success. It’s a blueprint for how to thrive in an industry built on trust, timing, and knowing exactly who to call at the right moment.
From City Advocate to Industry Insider: The Making of a Connector
Long before Josie was working on multimillion-dollar deals, she was shaping the heart of Miami’s business district as the Executive Director of the Downtown Miami Partnership. It was more than just a job. It was a crash course in politics, urban planning, economic development, and human nature.
“Working there was like earning a master’s degree in real estate and business, without ever stepping into a classroom.”
Her role was dynamic, constantly shifting between advocacy, lobbying, and problem-solving. One day, she’d be working with city officials on zoning policies. Next, she’d be helping small business owners find ways to stay afloat. She was at the center of the action, watching firsthand as Miami evolved from a fragmented downtown into a global business hub.
She didn’t just see the city’s transformation – she was part of it. And along the way, she learned something crucial: real estate isn’t just about buildings. It’s about people.
“People do business with those they trust. If you don’t have relationships, you don’t have a business. Period.”
That realization would become the foundation of her career.
Seeing What Others Miss: The CVI.CHE 105 Story
Some people have a knack for recognizing potential before it becomes obvious to the rest of the world. Josie has built an entire career on that ability.
One afternoon, a young Peruvian chef named Juan Chipoco walked into her office with an idea. He wanted to open a ceviche restaurant in a part of downtown that, at the time, most people wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. The area was gritty, struggling, and, in the eyes of many, an unlikely place for a high-end dining experience.
But as he talked about his vision, his passion was undeniable.
“He told me, ‘I’m going to change the way Miami sees Peruvian food.’ I listened, and I believed him.”
Instead of dismissing him, Josie helped. She introduced him to the right people, connected him with resources, and even secured catering opportunities to help him get started.
And on opening day? She was the first person to walk through the doors.
That small ceviche restaurant, once an improbable dream, is now a Miami institution with multiple locations across the city. And to this day, Juan still buys his business insurance from Josie’s husband.
“That’s what happens when you do business the right way. People remember. And they stay with you.”
Shifting Gears: A Leap into Commercial Real Estate
After years of working at the intersection of business and city development, Josie made a bold transition. She moved into commercial real estate and construction business development, a space where relationships mean everything, and the competition is relentless.
On paper, she didn’t have the traditional background. She hadn’t spent years studying real estate finance or sitting in brokerage meetings. But she had something far more valuable – a reputation built on trust, a deep understanding of the city, and a network that spanned industries.
It didn’t take long for developers to realize that Josie wasn’t just another business development executive – she was an asset.
She wasn’t just bringing in deals. She was bringing in the right deals.
“Real estate is all about trust. You don’t hand over a $60 million project to someone you don’t believe in.”
Her success in the industry came not from selling herself, but from the fact that, when she made a connection, people knew it was worth their time.
When the Pandemic Changed Everything, Relationships Changed the Game
When the world came to a standstill in 2020, so did real estate development. Construction slowed, projects were put on hold, and companies started cutting back. Josie, like many others, saw the writing on the wall.
Instead of panicking, she did what she had always done – she picked up the phone. She called someone in her network, someone she had built a real relationship with.
“I said, ‘I know things are shifting. Keep me in mind if anything comes up.’”
Three days later, she had a new job.
“When you build relationships the right way, people don’t just remember you – they go out of their way to help you.”
Leading CREW Miami: A Mission for the Future
Now, as she steps into her role as the 2025 President of CREW Miami, Josie is on a mission.
She wants women in commercial real estate to stop looking at each other as competition and start leveraging the power of their collective influence. Her initiative, “CREW First”, is built on a simple principle: before looking outside the organization for referrals, funding, or business opportunities, look inside first.
“We need to stop defaulting to the old networks and start building our own. If we don’t support each other, who will?”
She is also tackling one of the biggest challenges in Miami today – affordable housing.
“Affordable housing isn’t just for ‘other people.’ It’s for the teachers educating our kids, the police officers keeping us safe, and the healthcare workers saving lives. If we don’t make room for them, what kind of city are we really building?”
Her goal isn’t just to start a conversation – it’s to drive real change.
What She Wants the Next Generation to Know
Josie’s journey has been anything but conventional, but if there’s one thing she wants young professionals to take away from her story, it’s this:
Education matters. But relationships will define your success.
“I don’t have a degree, and I’ve had to work twice as hard because of it. If I could go back, I would get one. Not because it guarantees success, but because it makes the road easier.”
Her advice?
Get the education if you can. But never forget – your reputation, your relationships, and your ability to create value will determine your future more than any diploma ever could.
Final Thoughts: Success Is Built on Trust
Josie’s career proves one thing: business is personal. She didn’t climb the ranks through strategy alone. She built trust. She nurtured relationships. And she understood that, at the end of the day, success is about showing up for people – again and again, until they know they can count on you.
And that?
That’s the kind of success that lasts.
And that’s why, no matter where her career takes her next, Josie will always be at the center of the conversations that shape the future of Miami.
Because when it comes to building cities, businesses, and careers, she knows the most important truth of all: relationships build everything.
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