Leaning In From Dallas to Washington: Ray Washburne on Real Estate, Leadership, and Legacy
Nov 20, 2025
Ray Washburne, a seasoned commercial real estate investor and leader, shares insights from his dynamic career. He discusses his early entrepreneurial journey in Dallas and the vital role of reputation in business success. Ray recounts transforming Highland Park Village and the strategic mindset behind luxury retail. He dives into the future of downtown Dallas, the challenges of current economic shifts, and the influence of AI on real estate. His advice for aspiring professionals emphasizes integrity and innovative thinking.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Reputation Trumps Short-Term Wins
- Build and protect your reputation through transparency and integrity; it lasts a lifetime.
- Handle problems openly because one bad exit can destroy future opportunities in tight networks.
Family Ownership Enables Luxury Value
- Luxury retail performs when owners control the whole center and invest for the long term.
- Family ownership enables multi-decade thinking absent quarterly pressure from public markets.
Buying Highland Park Village In A Crash
- Ray describes quietly negotiating Highland Park Village during the 2008–09 crisis and closing the deal with creative financing.
- He transformed rents from about $36 to several hundred dollars and boosted sales dramatically.