Masters of Scale

The bromance that rebuilt Detroit: Dan Gilbert and Mayor Mike Duggan

19 snips
Aug 16, 2025
Mike Duggan, the Mayor of Detroit, and Dan Gilbert, founder of Rocket Companies, share their powerful partnership in revitalizing Detroit. They discuss groundbreaking public-private collaborations that have transformed the city into a booming tech hub. The duo candidly addresses challenges like gentrification while advocating for inclusive growth that empowers long-time residents. They also highlight the cultural and economic significance of sports in uniting the community, showcasing how these efforts contribute to Detroit's vibrant renaissance.
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INSIGHT

Anchor Tenants Rebuilt Downtown

  • Dan Gilbert moved Rocket Companies downtown to occupy and renovate existing buildings rather than act as a landlord.
  • Concentrating employees in downtown created an anchor that attracted other tech companies and startups.
ANECDOTE

Winning By Bridging Divides

  • Mike Duggan ran for mayor promising to bridge divides and won in a majority-Black city by focusing on inclusive politics.
  • He argues Detroiters embraced partnership across suburbs, business, and neighborhoods to drive recovery.
ANECDOTE

Turning Renters Into Homeowners

  • Dan Gilbert helped convert renters into homeowners by paying taxes and offering mortgages through Quicken/Rocket and the Detroit Land Bank.
  • Mike Duggan credits 1,400 families becoming homeowners to that program and calls the moment transformational for those families.
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