Leading Voices in Real Estate

Matt Slepin sits down with TK Gong, Vice President for Asia Pacific at Starlight Investments, to discuss South Korea’s real estate market, its economic growth, and the differences between institutional investment in Korea and the U.S. They explore the country's unique housing system, the resilience of its office market post-COVID, and how Korean investors have shifted from individual asset acquisitions to fund-based investments overseas. The conversation offers insight into Korea’s evolving real estate landscape and emerging opportunities.

Matt Slepin sits down with Anthony Frammartino, Chairman and CEO of Townsend, to explore the evolution of real assets investing and the changing landscape of commercial real estate. They discuss how investment strategies have evolved, the growing complexity of the market, and the risks and opportunities shaping investor decisions. Anthony shares insights from Townsend’s history and its role in advising investors through shifting market cycles. The conversation offers a broader perspective on the forces driving the industry and the diverse approaches investors are taking to navigate an increasingly complex environment. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the tr...

Matt Slepin sits down with Tadd Miller, CEO of Milhaus, to discuss his leadership journey and the evolution of Milhaus from a small startup into a growing national multifamily platform. They explore Tadd’s experiences navigating the Global Financial Crisis, partnerships and private equity, and Milhaus’ recent growth through strategic acquisitions and mergers. The conversation also examines the importance of scale, leadership, resilience, and culture in building and growing a successful real estate business.

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Matt Slepin speaks with Jay Mantz, President of Rialto Capital Management, about the growth of Rialto’s $23B platform, the commercial real estate debt market, and how Jay’s background in real estate equity investing at Morgan Stanley has influenced his perspective. They also dive into leadership, company culture, mentorship, and the lasting impact of professional networks, including what made Morgan Stanley’s real estate culture so influential and what today’s leaders can learn from it.

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features Maury Tognarelli, President and CEO of Heitman, a $50 billion real estate investment manager. Drawing on more than four decades at Heitman, including over 25 years leading the firm, Maury discusses the value of longevity, the importance of brand and guiding principles, and how Heitman has evolved through multiple market cycles. The conversation explores long-term leadership, strategic thinking, and the importance of keeping institutional investors’ goals at the center of real estate investment management.

Matt Slepin sits down with Bill Stein, former CEO of Digital Realty Trust and current partner at Primary Digital Infrastructure, for a wide-ranging conversation about the rapid evolution of the data center industry and its increasingly important role in the AI economy.

Drawing on decades of experience in digital infrastructure, Bill provides historical context on the sector’s transformation from a relatively niche real estate business into one of the most closely watched areas of investment and development. Matt and Bill explore how the AI arms race is driving unprecedented demand for new data centers—and with it...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin speaks with Mike McNamara, co-founder and CEO of Samara, an innovative homebuilder focused on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and small-scale infill housing. A company incubated within Airbnb's venture arm, Samara is rethinking how factory-built homes can help address both the housing shortage and climate challenges.

Mike shares how his experience leading global manufacturing company Flex shaped Samara's approach to scalable, high-quality home production, and discusses why smaller, neighborhood-based development can play an important role alongside larger multifamily projects. As part of Leading Voices' annual Climate Month...

In this special rebroadcast of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin revisits his 2017 conversation with acclaimed architect Phil Freelon of Perkins & Will, one of the lead designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Recorded shortly after the museum’s opening, the conversation reflects on Phil’s vision, impact, and legacy during a deeply personal time as he battled ALS.

Revisited during a recent Fourth of July, this episode offers a thoughtful look back at a moment when national landmarks like the National Mall and institutions like the Smithsonian serv...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with Casey Berman, Founder and Managing Partner of Camber Creek, a private equity firm investing in innovative real estate technology and cash-flowing assets. Part of the podcast’s ongoing proptech VC series, the conversation explores how real estate operators are leveraging technology to solve persistent industry pain points and build more integrated, competitive business platforms.

Drawing from his experience as both an operator and investor, Casey shares insights on how fragmented tech solutions are evolving into cohesive systems that drive efficiency, differentiation, and long-term va...

In this podcast episode, Matt Slepin speaks with Darrell Crate, CEO of Easterly Government Properties, about the company’s differentiated investment strategy as a net lease REIT focused on mission-critical properties leased to U.S. government agencies. While often associated with traditional office and the DC market, Easterly’s portfolio tells a different story, with limited office exposure and a broader geographic footprint. Crate shares his perspective on the company’s positioning between underperforming office REITs and strong net lease peers, highlighting a potential pricing mismatch and investment opportunity. The conversation also touches on the role of outsourcing in govern...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with retiring Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration Dean Kate Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving role of hospitality within real estate and business leadership. Recorded during Walsh’s final month as Dean, the discussion explores Cornell’s outsized influence on the global hotel industry and the powerful network and culture that have shaped generations of hospitality leaders.

The episode goes beyond hotels to examine how hospitality principles—service, operations, resident experience, and organizational culture—are increasingly influencing other real estate sectors, especial...

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features a conversation with Margette Hepfner and Sam Bakshandehpour of BILT, a platform bringing hospitality and rewards into the multifamily housing space. The discussion explores how BILT fits into the broader apartment ecosystem and highlights a larger industry shift toward a more customer-focused, service-driven model.

Building on insights from recent conversations and industry events, the episode underscores how differentiation in today’s market is increasingly happening at the operator level. As ownership remains relatively fragmented, operators are consolidating and investing in technology, platform capabilities, and hospitality-driven experiences to better se...

A wide-ranging conversation with economist and Rent Roll podcast host Jay Parsons on the current state of the apartment industry and adjacent sectors, including single-family rentals (SFR), build-to-rent (BTR), student, and senior housing. Jay shares key market trends, regulatory challenges, and myth-busting insights, most notably that while property management has consolidated, ownership in the multifamily sector remains highly fragmented. The episode offers a thoughtful look at how scale, operations, and evolving market dynamics are shaping the future of housing.

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features a conversation with Argentine politician Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, recorded in Buenos Aires at the end of Matt Slepin’s South American trip. Unlike the previous episode focused on real estate investment in Chile, this discussion centers less on property markets and more on leadership, governance, and the economic challenges facing Argentina.

Larreta shares his perspective on navigating political leadership in a country marked by ongoing economic instability, explaining why Argentina remains difficult for institutional real estate investment. The conversation explores the importance of political moderation and consistency in...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin sits down with Francisco Rencoret for a live conversation recorded atop the landmark mixed-use development MUT in Santiago.

Slepin reflects on his travels through Chile, highlighting the country’s modern infrastructure, vibrant urban energy, and the success of large-scale developments like MUT as standout examples of placemaking. He also shares observations on Chile’s geographic diversity, welcoming culture, and appeal as both a travel destination and business environment.

The episode weaves in broader insights on Chile’s political and economic stability, shaped by its hi...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin sits down with Justin Pattner, Head of Real Estate Equity, Americas at KKR, for a wide-ranging conversation recorded on February 26. The discussion explores the major forces shaping today’s real estate investment landscape, including global capital flows, the evolution of REITs in comparison to private equity and traditional real estate investment managers, and the role of operating platforms versus partnerships with external operators.

Matt also shares his perspective as both a recruiter and interviewer, emphasizing that the most authentic insights into leadership often emerge not fr...

Thirteen months after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Lew Horne and David Waite return to Leading Voices to provide a candid update on recovery, rebuilding, and the long road ahead.

With more than 13,000 structures lost, including over 12,000 homes, the scale of rebuilding remains immense. More than 3,100 permits have been issued and nearly 900 homes are now under construction, yet fewer than a dozen have received certificates of occupancy. The conversation explores why progress feels slow, what is working, and where friction still exists.

Lew and David discuss permitting timelines, the rollout of professional self-certification and AI-assisted...

In Part II of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin continues his conversation with Roy March, CEO of Eastdil Secured, exploring what has made the firm a true powerhouse in the commercial real estate investment business.

This episode moves beyond history to focus on the cultural DNA, client-first philosophy, and strategic discipline that have defined Eastdil’s success. Roy shares candid insights on leadership, the importance of language, and why he sees himself not as a broker but as an investment banker. His perspective highlights how mindset shapes positioning, credibility, and long-term impact.

A...

In Part I of this two-part conversation, Leading Voices in Real Estate host Matt Slepin sits down with legendary Eastdil Secured CEO Roy March, joined by ZRG colleague Alan Walker, for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolution and institutionalization of the real estate industry. Recorded in Santa Monica, the episode traces Eastdil’s origin story and the broader transformation of real estate from the early 1980s through the Global Financial Crisis, offering essential context for understanding today’s global capital markets. March shares granular, firsthand stories from landmark transactions, including the sale of Equity Office Properties from Sam Zell to B...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin sits down with Sonny Kalsi, CEO of BGO, a global real estate investment manager with over $90 billion in assets under management. Continuing the show’s multi-episode theme of thinking broadly, both globally and long term, this conversation explores how commercial real estate has evolved and what the next decade might look like in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Following recent and upcoming conversations with Tim Bodner of PwC and Roy March of Eastdil Secured, Sonny offers a distinct perspective shaped by experience across market cycles and ge...

Leading Voices in Real Estate kicks off 2026 and Season 9 with a wide-lens conversation on global real estate trends and long-term market shifts. Host Matt Slepin is joined by Tim Bodner, Global Real Estate Deals Leader at PwC and a key voice behind PwC and ULI’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report, now in its 47th year.

Rather than focusing on short-term topics, this episode explores the fundamental forces shaping real estate globally. Tim shares insights on investor drivers, return expectations, investment structures, time horizons, and how capital is being allocated across U.S. and international markets, in...

In the final episode of 2025, the microphone is flipped as Matt Sleppin appears as a guest on Lance Woods’ Fortunes of the Brave podcast. Recorded on October 16, the conversation, titled From Cowboys to Platforms, explores the evolution of the real estate industry from founder driven “Cowboy” businesses to resilient, institutional platforms. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience, Matt shares insights on leadership, building enduring business platforms, and what creates meaningful and successful careers in real estate. This episode captures the core themes behind Leading Voices in Real Estate and ZRG’s work helping companies transition from founder led organiza...

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features an in-depth conversation with Don Wood, CEO and President of Federal Realty Investment Trust, one of the oldest companies in the REIT industry and the only one to raise its dividend for 58 consecutive years. Don and host Matt Slepin discuss how the REIT investor base has evolved during his tenure, the growing contrast between public REITs and private equity, and how leading REITs use joint ventures to diversify their capital.

The episode covers Federal’s 27 million square foot retail and mixed use portfolio in high income, high barrier ma...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin speaks with Jeremy Bromfman, CEO and founder of Lincoln Avenue Communities, one of the nation’s top affordable housing owners and developers. Founded in 2016, the company has quickly grown into a leading force addressing housing affordability across the country. The discussion focuses on how Jeremy thoughtfully built the organization from the ground up and his perspective on leadership in the affordable housing space.

Matt begins by reflecting on how housing has evolved from a “back page” issue to a national conversation. For most of his career...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with Jeffrey Hoopes, President of the West Region for Suffolk Construction to explore how the general contracting business is evolving and what it means to lead, build, and eventually pass the baton in a rapidly changing industry.

This episode marks a first: a deep dive with a senior executive from the general contracting world. Jeff shares hard-earned perspective from decades in the field, reflecting on the pace of technological adoption in construction and why meaningful change requires both context and skepticism, not j...

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, we sit down with Bob Hart, Founder and CEO of TruAmerica Multifamily, for an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of the multifamily housing market.

Bob shares his remarkable journey from his early career at Kennedy Wilson, where he built a foundation in investment and asset management, to launching TruAmerica, now recognized as one of the largest apartment operators in the United States. His story is one of entrepreneurial vision, strategic partnerships, and a deep understanding of how to create long-term value...

In this episode, Joe Muratore and Ryan Swehla reveal how they’re unlocking opportunities in secondary and tertiary real estate markets—areas often underestimated yet rich with potential. They push back against the misconception that only primary markets deliver results, showing how overlooked regions can provide strong, sustainable returns with the right strategy.

The conversation also highlights the critical role of partnerships. Rather than chasing every deal, they carefully align with partners who share their vision and values. This intentional approach leverages diverse expertise while maintaining unity of purpose, allowing them to navigate challenges and capi...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Luke Petherbridge, CEO, and Nick Pell, President & Chief Investment Officer, of LINK Logistics, Blackstone's U.S. industrial platform.

Discover their unique perspectives on the logistics industry, investment strategies, and the future of industrial platforms. Whether you're an industry insider or just curious about the logistics world, this episode offers valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions.

Resources:

Luke Petherbridge | LinkedIn

Luke Petherbridge | Bio

Nicholas Pell | LinkedIn

Nicholas Pell | Bio

Link Logistics website

Join us as we dive into the career journey of Debra Cafaro, the Chairman and CEO of Ventas. From her humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to leading one of the largest REITs, Debbie shares her insights on leadership, innovation, and the strategic decisions that have propelled Ventas to the forefront of the real estate industry.

Resources:

Debra Cafaro | LinkedIn

Debra Cafaro bio

Ventas website

Dave Reiss, Co-Founder & CEO Wunder Power, explores the profound impact of the energy transition on the commercial real estate sector and the global shifts towards sustainable energy solutions with commercial properties being at the forefront of this transformation. 

Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator and President of Bright Harbor, discusses the preparedness, systems and infrastructure our country and our industry needs to effectively respond to disasters. In our previous episode with Lew Horne and David Waite, we talked about our industry's response to the January Los Angeles fire disaster and, more generally, the real estate industry’s role in preparedness, immediate response, and rebuilding in these disasters.

Lew Horne, President for Advisory Services for CBRE in Greater Los Angeles, and David Waite, Partner at Cox, Castle, & Nicholson LLP discuss Project Recovery, Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires. This report was created by the real estate industry as a roadmap for disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.

In this revisit of our conversation from 2023, Brett White, the outgoing Executive Chair of Cushman & Wakefield and prior CEO of CBRE, tells the story of the growth and evolution of these now giant global real estate service firms. In this rebroadcast episode, Brett discusses the evolution of today’s giant global real estate service platforms from essentially brokerage shops to the full-service firms that they are today.

Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel, a multifamily prop tech company, discusses how Funnel fundamentally changes the owner-renter relationship and how that relationship facilitates change in the operating platform within the apartment business, opening the door to greater centralization, the use of AI, and a changed workforce. This conversation follows up on our prior LVRE episode with David Stanford and Chris Shaida of RealFoundations, where we established the importance and meaning of “operating platform” in the real estate business.

At the 25 th Anniversary of their firm, RealFoundations, Co-Founders David Stanford and Chris Shaida deliver a masterclass on how information technology and AI are impacting the real estate industry. This episode is Part 1 of our two-part series exploring the influence of information technology and artificial intelligence on the real estate business.

At the firm's 60th anniversary, the next generation co-CEOs of Lincoln Property Company, Clay Duvall and David Binswanger, discuss the company’s new business model, succession, leadership, legacy, and approach to the challenges and opportunities of today's business. As Lincoln celebrates its 60th anniversary, this conversation takes place at their newly delivered headquarters office in Dallas.

Ben Miller, CEO and Co-Founder of Fundrise, joins Matt for a compelling conversation about the company’s mission to transform the real estate investment landscape through its innovative, online, direct-to-consumer platform. What began as a low-fee real estate fund has since expanded to include venture capital, marking a bold step in reshaping traditional investment models.

Brad Korman and Lea Anne Welsh of Korman Communities share the meaning and tradition that drive their high-touch, fifth-generation family apartment business to success. This conversation with Brad and Lea Anne took place live at an AVE by Korman property in King of Prussia, PA.

Michael Levy, CEO of Crow Holdings, discusses the history of the Trammell Crow real estate businesses and how that legacy guides the business of Crow Holdings today. This conversation with Michael was recorded on March 28th at the Crow Holdings headquarters office in Dallas at the Old Parkland Hospital campus.

Shannon Loew, Amazon’s Vice President of Global Workforce Solutions, elaborates on his global role and the company’s return to office policy. Recorded on March 12 at Amazon’s South Lake Union campus in Seattle, this conversation with Shannon is only the second Leading Voices episode with a corporate real estate leader.