The Walker Webcast Mallory Walker, Former Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop
Nov 20, 2025
Mallory Walker, the former chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop, shares his rich journey in commercial real estate and his connection to UVA. He discusses the company's evolution, early tech adoption, and the significant shift from a deal-dependent model to stable revenues. Mallory offers insights on family business dynamics, including the challenges and triumphs of succession. He reflects on his late return to completing his degree at UVA and highlights the importance of curiosity and talent development in the industry.
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Joining The Family Brokerage
- Mallory Walker joined his father's small Washington D.C. brokerage, Walker & Dunlop, in 1962 and helped grow it from about 45 employees.
- Early business relied on insurance company capital and constant deal-sourcing, making the firm highly deal-dependent.
Shift From Deals To Stable Revenue
- The firm intentionally moved from deal-dependence toward recurring, stable revenue streams in the mid-1980s.
- Diversifying revenue reduced vulnerability to the next-deal cycle and steadied the business through downturns.
Find Opportunity In Adversity
- When markets are turbulent, look for opportunity because adversity often creates the next generation of leaders.
- Use downturns to find gaps others avoid and build lasting businesses from distressed situations.