MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries
This podcast is produced by MIT Center for Real Estate. In each episode, student hosts interview industry leaders about real estate innovation, technology, finance, and sustainability. The show aims to provide insights and stories from visionaries shaping the future of real estate development. It is published semimonthly.
Episodes
Patient Capital, Location, and Resilience: Principles of Institutional Real Estate
In this episode, Eric Plesman, President & CEO of Oxford Properties, challenges prevailing narratives on institutional real estate investing. We dig into whether permanent pension capital changes investment decisions, what separates trophy office from secular decline, and why patient capital makes you behave differently than investors operating on defined timelines.Join us as we discuss Oxford
The Mid-Year Verdict: Where Should Capital Actually Belong in 2026?
Mark G. Roberts, MSRED alumnus, Managing Director of Research at Crow Holdings Capital, and Director of Research at SMU's Folsom Institute, joins us to unpack his 2026 real estate outlook — and the conversation goes well beyond the report. We dig into why he's calling 2026 a "bifurcated" market and what that means for capital allocation. We pressure-test his 4.15 to 4.30 percent
Resilience and Vision: A Developers Journey
In this episode, MSRED student Cherry Tang sits down with MSRED alumnus Carlos Rosso, Founder & President of Rosso Development.Carlos Rosso shares his journey from Argentina to MIT to lead developer shaping Miami's skyline. After decades building across multiple continents and navigating the 2008 financial crisis at Related Group, he launched his independent firm and is still applying less
Building for AI: Capital, Power, and Risk in Next-Generation Data Center Development
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, interviewer Monisha Nasa speaks with Hossein Fateh, founder and CEO of Cloud Capital and CloudHQ, about the future of digital infrastructure. Drawing on decades of experience in developing and operating data centers worldwide, Fateh discusses how the industry has evolved from cloud to AI, the differences between training and inference AI facilities, and the
Investing through Real Estate Market Shifts
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MIT Center for Real Estate students Ryan Othman and Jainil Shah sit down with David DesPrez, Partner on Bain Capital’s Special Situations team, to explore how one of the industry’s leading investors navigates real estate dislocation across debt and equity.David shares how Bain approaches capital solutions, distressed investing, and platform-based real estat
The Next Step: Real Estate Decision-Making in India’s Growing Hospitality Sector
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, Jainil Shah sits down with Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director of Brigade Group, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, strategy, and building resilience in India’s real estate and hospitality markets.Drawing on her experience across consulting, hospitality, and development—as well as her discipline as an Ironman triathlete—Nirupa reflects on ho
The Forces Reshaping Global Real Estate
MSRED candidate Michael Khamis welcomes David Steinbach, Global Chief Investment Officer at Hines, to MIT’s Center for Real Estate for an in-person conversation. David made the trip from Houston to Cambridge to sit down with our students and share his perspective on the forces reshaping global real estate.With more than 25 years at Hines and oversight of a platform that has grown from roughly $10
Energizing and Decarbonizing Logistics at Global Scale
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MIT/CRE student Monisha Nasa sits down with Susan Uthayakumar, Chief Energy and Sustainability Officer at Prologis, one of the world’s largest logistics real estate company. Susan shares her career journey leading to her role in global sustainability at Prologis.She outlines how Prologis is transforming logistics real estate through sustainable design, on‑s
Building Trust: Aligning Capital, Design, and Community
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, Jainil Shah sits down with Adam Gordon, Managing Partner at Wildflower, for a thoughtful conversation on real estate investing, design-led development, and building enduring platforms in complex urban environments.Adam shares how Wildflower approaches investment through a deep understanding of demand, long-term trends, and human behavior. The discussion exp
Outlook 2026: Translating Insights into Strategy
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, Jainil Shah sits down with Sally Ann Flood, U.S. Real Estate Sector Leader at Deloitte, for a thoughtful conversation on navigating today’s real estate cycle with judgment and conviction.Drawing on her research and decades of experience across multiple market cycles, Sally Ann shares why the current moment represents a pause rather than a stop, how leaders
Lifting Cities: Design, Civic Partnership, and Social Impact
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MSRED student Michael Khamis speaks with MaryAnne Gilmartin, Founder and CEO of MAG Partners, about what it means to build cities with conviction, purpose, and long-term vision. MaryAnne traces her path from public service in New York City’s economic development ecosystem to leading transformative real estate projects in the city, including the Barclays Cen
Healthcare Developments: Leading in a Complex Landscape
In this episode, we meet with Chris Bilotto, Executive Vice President at The RMR Group, and President & CEO of both Diversified Healthcare Trust and Service Properties Trust. With leadership roles spanning healthcare real estate, hospitality, and a diverse portfolio of operating properties, Chris shares how he navigates the complexities of managing large, dynamic real estate platforms.From les
Rethinking Place & Space: Smart City Infrastructure, Innovation Economies, and Adaptive-Reuse Projects
In this episode, host Michael Khamis, a student in the MIT Master of Science in Real Estate Development program, sits down with EvanRegan-Levine, Chief Strategy Officer at JBG SMITH (NYSE: JBGS)—one of the most influential real estate owners and developers in the Washington, D.C. region. Together, they explore how JBG SMITH is reshaping urban districts through data-driven strategy, digital infrast
Old House, New Trick: Japan's Housing Market Reimagined with Education and Technology
In this episode, Shotaro Fujisawa, founder of Yamori (ヤモリ), joins us to discuss how his Tokyo-based startup is reimagining Japan’s housing market.Founded in 2019, Yamori tackles Japan’s growing vacant-home crisis by acquiring and rehabilitating underused properties, turning them into affordable rentals for overlooked groups such as foreign workers, single-parent families, and young renters. Beyond
Real Estate's Tech Transformation: Strategy, Operations, Efficiency
In this episode MSRED students Isabelle Turri and Cherry Tang sit down with David Blumenfeld, Co-Founder of NextRivet, to explore how technology and data-driven strategy are reshaping the real estate industry.From uncovering the true operational needs of Real Estate firms to crafting tailored tech solutions that enhance decision-making and efficiency, David shares how NextRivet’s consultative appr
Blueprints & Ballgames: Designing Baseball's Iconic Venues
In this episode, architect and urban planner Janet Marie Smith joins us to reflect on her career shaping some of baseball’s most beloved ballparks. Her work has redefined the role of sports venues as engines of urban vitality and cultural identity.At Oriole Park, Janet Marie helped pioneer the “retro” ballpark movement that reconnected stadiums with their urban surroundings. In Boston, she led the
Talking Housing with Jay Parsons: Reading the Market in 2025
In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MSRED student Michael Khamis sits down with Jay Parsons, one of the industry’s renowned rental housing economists and strategists, for a deep dive into the forces shaping housing and capital markets in 2025 and beyond. From the ripple effects of immigration policy on construction labor and project feasibility to the rent slowdown, shifting housing policy,
(SEASON PREMIERE) Scaling Sustainability: Urban Transformation in India
In this episode, we sit down with Aun Abdullah, Vice President of Lodha Group and head of the Environment and Sustainable Urbanization agenda at the Lodha Foundation. Aun leads the Net Zero Urban Accelerator, a partnership between Lodha and the RMI India Foundation, and his work spans every scale of the built environment—from ultra-efficient buildings to the design of Palava, a planned urban towns
Experiential Real Estate: Riding the Wave of Surf Park Development
In this episode, we welcome the dynamic and inspiring Nicholas Edelman, CEO and Founder of surf park development company Aventuur. Aventuur is on a mission is to create exceptional surfing destinations and experiences that generate meaningful social and economic value. To do this, the company's secured the rights to the world’s leading wave-generating technology – the Wavegarden Cove – in mark
Tech Innovations – Investing in the Built Environment Transition
In the final episode of season two, we meet with Gregory Dewerpe, the Founder and Partner of NOA (formerly A/O), Europe's leading venture capital firm pioneering the transformation of the real estate and construction industries. Driven by a critical mission to decarbonize the built world and enhance its sustainability, Gregory brings a visionary and investment-focused perspective to identifying an
Repricing for the (Uncertain) Future: Real Estate, Property Value, and Climate
This episode features MIT alum Dave Burt, CFA, Founder and CEO of DeltaTerra Capital, who is at the forefront of quantifying the growing risks the climate crisis poses to real estate and mortgage markets.Drawing on his background in managing a global macro portfolio as a Partner at BlueMountain Capital Management and his strategic leadership at Bain & Company, Dave offers a uniquely rigorous,
Building a platform for the next generation of real estate innovators
In this episode, we're incredibly excited to welcome Brad Hargreaves and Paul Stanton of Thesis Driven.Thesis Driven's flagship online newsletter is widely considered one of the more thought-provoking and well-written real estate publications today, diving deep into emerging real estate themes, technologies, and funding models. The brand has grown in the past few years to include a podcast
A Sit Down with Commercial Real Estate Luminary Willy Walker
In this episode, we're honored to host one of the preeminent voices in commercial real estate today, Willy Walker.Willy is Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop. Under his leadership, Walker & Dunlop has grown from a small, family-owned business to become one of the largest commercial real estate finance and advisory firms in the United States and internationally. Walker & Dunlop is
Beyond the Core: A Deep Dive with PREA’s Greg MacKinnon
Greg MacKinnon, Director of Research at the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and a long time collaborator of the MIT Center for Real Estate, joins us on this episode of the Meet the Visionaries Podcast. Drawing on PREA’s deep industry reach and rigorous consensus forecasting, Greg offers a panoramic view of how shifts in capital markets, technology, and investor behavior are reshaping real e
Green Gains: The Business Case for Sustainable Real Estate
In this episode, we sit down with Elena Alschuler, Head of Sustainability for the Americas at LaSalle. She acts as a central leader for sustainability and climate risk initiatives across all asset classes and investment products, collaborating closely with Portfolio Management, Transactions and Asset Management. Elena shares the business case behind sustainable real estate—how robust data, energy
On Resilience, Conviction, and Thoughtful Design: Building a Successful Bay Area Business
In this episode, we welcome Kabir Seth, Principal at San Francisco-based Presidio Bay Ventures, a vertically-integrated developer of commercial real estate for private and public sector tenants across the U.S. Presidio Bay Ventures' portfolio consists of mid- to large-scale office, life science and R&D spaces, mixed-use, urban infill multifamily communities, industrial distribution centers and
Affordable Housing: The Missing Middle
In this episode, we welcome AJ Jackson, President of LEO Impact Capital, a subsidiary of JBG Smith focused on acquiring, financing, and operating workforce housing using an Impact Framework. AJ serves on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the Fannie Mae Affordable Housing Advisory Council, NMHC’s Workforce Housing Committee, and is Chair of the Advisory Board at the Randall Lewis Cen
The Game Plan: Real Estate Leadership
In this episode, we welcome Joe Azelby, former NFL linebacker and current Head of Real Estate and Private Markets for UBS Asset Management. With a career spanning from professional sports to managing real estate, infrastructure, and private equity investments. Joe brings perspective to leadership, strategy, and the evolving real estate landscape.
Hosted by Dean Firouzian, a student at the MIT Cen
Architect of Change: Sustainability in Practice
In this episode we welcome Tess McNamara, AIA, a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Arup and faculty member at the Yale School of Architecture. Tess shares her journey that propelled her to the intersection of research, design, and implementation, where she is driving advancements in sustainable built environments.
She offers insights into her role at Arup, where her research informs strategies
Fusion Physicist to Real Estate Visionary
In this episode, we sit down with Jill Brosig, Senior Managing Director and Chief Impact Officer at Harrison Street, a global investment management firm headquartered in Chicago. With a background as a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory, KMS Fusion, and Motorola, Jill brings a unique perspective to the pursuit of aggressive sustainability goals in real estate. As a pioneer in environmental i
Collaborative Development
How can we create cities where people truly thrive? In this episode, Thure Krarup, Head of Global Stakeholder Relations at Urban Partners, joins us from Copenhagen to explore how meaningful, big-picture partnerships can drive lasting change at scale. Hosted by Soala Lolia Ajienka, a dual-degree Architecture and Real Estate Development student at MIT, this conversation delves into the transformativ
Shift to a Non-Linear World
In this episode, we host Dror Poleg, Economic Historian and award-winning author of Rethinking Real Estate. Dror is an insightful voice on the evolving intersection of technology, work, and urban environments. Hosted by Larry Deng, a student at the MIT Center for Real Estate, this episode offers a fascinating deep dive into the forces reshaping how we live, work, and build.
Dror shares his perspec
Climate Impact and Rewarding Returns
In our season premiere, we welcome Joe Sumberg, Head of Real Estate, and Nicolette Jaze, Head of ESG and Sustainability for Real Estate at Galvanize Real Estate. Together, they share the innovative sustainability principles that underpin Galvanize’s distinctive approach to real estate investment. Hosted by Sam Jakshtis, a student in the MIT Center for Real Estate, this episode showcases how Galvan
Practicing Real Estate with Purpose
Onay Payne is a Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Manulife Investment Management, leading the firm’s ESG impact investment strategy. She works with various teams to screen investments, identify ESG risks and opportunities, optimize portfolios, enhance asset performance, maximize returns, and set ESG benchmarks. She is part of the global real estate leadership team.
Join us as Onay
Leadership for Sustainable Real Estate
What do we need in transitional and uncertain times? Leaders.
On this episode of Meet the Visionaries, we have the pleasure of interviewing Mahbod Nia, CEO of Veris Residential. We explore the sustainability values Veris Residential holds under Mahbod’s leadership, and learn more about how the company has undergone a strategic transformation. Hosted by Daniela Morales, student at the MIT Center f
Exploring Climate Resilience in Real Estate
In this episode, join us as Viet Nguyen of MIT’s Center for Real Estate interviews Natalie Ambrosio Preudhomme, Associate Director at Moody’s Analytics CRE, a provider of innovative commercial real estate solutions for investors, lenders, and brokers. In her role, Natalie conducts research and outreach on the implications of climate risk, resilience and ESG on real estate markets and the built env
Pioneer, New Frontier
In this episode, join us alongside Peter Merrigan (MSRED ’93), CEO and Managing Partner of Taurus Investment Holdings, as he engages in a dynamic conversation with Viet Nguyen at MIT’s Center for Real Estate. Explore Peter's remarkable trajectory in the real estate industry, from his formative time in MIT's MSRED program to pioneering his first major deal and beyond.
Delve into the rich
A Better Working World
In this episode, Ernst & Young (EY) industry leader Mark Grinis sits down with host Jason Ng at the MIT Center for Real Estate to discuss the ever-changing real estate, hospitality, and construction sector, and how EY fits into it.
From Mark's early experiences in accounting to his current role managing a multi-billion dollar business at EY, listeners will gain valuable insights into his
Building a Greener Future
In this latest podcast episode featuring Luis Claudio Garcia de Souza, CEO and Founder of Finvest we explore how investments impact green innovations in the real estate sector, and their potential for transformative climate action. Hosted by Daniela Morales, student at the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, this episode highlights Luis Claudio’s lifelong experience building successful e
Decentralized Housing Model
Explore real estate innovation and community building in the latest podcast episode featuring Qian Wang, a seasoned real estate professional and visionary founder of Collab. Hosted by Jason Ng, student at the MIT Center for Real Estate, this episode unfolds Qian's journey through his career to developing Collab: a groundbreaking decentralized student housing real estate asset management platfo
Data, Climate and Real Estate: Overcoming Challenges with Cutting-Edge Technology
In an era marked by climate volatility and global uncertainty, the quest to future-proof capital investment has never been more vital. Join us for a thought-provoking interview with Michael Ferrari, Chief Scientific & Chief Investment Officer at Climate Alpha, a pioneering AI-powered location analytics platform. Their objective? To revolutionize how we assess and price the future of geography
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