More Regions
2025 Women In Real Estate Awards
National
Alexandra Cooley
Co-founder of Nuveen Green Capital (formerly Greenworks Lending)
Raised over $4 billion in AUM and oversaw NGC’s first bond issuance
Alexandra “Ali” Cooley co-founded Nuveen Green Capital (formerly Greenworks Lending) in 2015 and served as CIO, COO and CFO from its inception through its acquisition by Nuveen in April 2021. Under Cooley’s leadership, the organization has expanded to 40 states (and D.C.), scaling from zero to nearly 700 individual assets and growing the team from two to almost 100 professionals.
Cooley raised over $4 billion in assets under management and oversaw NGC’s first 144A Bond issuance (C-PACE 2021-1).
Before co-founding NGC, Cooley oversaw and managed the development of over $100 million in innovative financial products to deploy clean energy by leveraging private capital at the Connecticut Green Bank, the nation’s first green bank. Recently, she closed the industry’s largest C-PACE-financed transaction totaling $290 million on behalf of Pendry Hotel & Residences in Tampa, FL.
Within the firm, Cooley helped implement a comprehensive professional development program that includes coaching, regular market briefings and topical deep dives to keep the team current while encouraging continuous learning. Following Jessica Bailey’s appointment as Nuveen’s Head of Global Infrastructure in October 2025, which resulted in her overseeing NGC as part of a newly created Investment Vertical, Cooley was promoted to CEO and CIO of NGC.
She has received numerous awards for her involvement in the C-PACE program, including a Notable Leader in Finance (Crain’s New York), Woman of Influence (GlobeSt/Real Estate Forum), Influential Women in Institutional Investing (Pensions and Investments) and One to Watch (New York Real Estate Journal). Cooley and NGC’s co-founder Jessica Bailey have been jointly recognized as “CRE’s Best Bosses” (GlobeSt/Real Estate Forum) and among the “50 Most Important Figures of Commercial Real Estate Finance” (Commercial Observer).
These are just a few reasons Ali Cooley is among the National Connect CRE 2025 Women in Real Estate Award winners. Connect CRE’s Women in Real Estate Awards honor the achievements and inspirational stories of women who have reached respected leadership positions and taken on mentorship roles.