

POWERS
Chris Powers
POWERS brings you inside the minds of world-class leaders who have built, battled, and succeeded at the highest levels.POWERS digs beyond the surface with questions driven by curiosity, uncovering stories and insights rarely shared publicly. Each episode delivers timeless wisdom and hard-earned lessons that apply across business and life.The show has earned a reputation for asking the right questions at the right moment. The focus is on timeless principles, proven through years of discipline and risk, not on shortcuts. Each conversation is direct, deliberate, and designed to leave listeners sharper than when they arrived. The aim is simple: to deliver insights that matter and can be carried into business and life.Since its launch, POWERS has drawn a high-caliber audience of builders, investors, and decision makers. Past guests have represented companies such as Starwood Capital, JLL, Hillwood Capital, Chick-fil-A, Morning Brew, Founders Podcast, Tiny Capital, Permanent Equity, Fort, Matthews REIS, Bonobos, and ConvertKit.At its core, POWERS is a celebration of leadership, of work that matters, and of the American spirit that makes it possible.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 27, 2022 • 57min
#256: Ryan Eisenman - Co-Founder of Arch - Building The Digital Admin for Private Investments
Ryan Eisenman is the co-founder and CEO of Arch, a digital solution utilized by over 180 private investment firms to automate the administration and management of tens of $Bs of alternative investments. Ryan is a Houston native, graduated from Vanderbilt University, and now lives in New York City where Arch is headquartered.On this episode Chris and Ryan discuss:
the story of how he got the idea to build and execute on Arch
the issues behind managing wealth and private investments
how he raised VC capital
Ryan asks Chris several questions about his career
Support our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital Learn more about Chris Powers and Fort Capital: www.FortCapitalLP.comFollow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/Follow Chris on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/FortWorthChris Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ Subscribe to The Fort on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJ32shRt8Od3MxMY-keTSQLinks:Ryan on TwitterArchTopics:(2:27) - Ryan’s background and career(3:49) - The Israeli Entrepreneurship scene(6:41) - Ryan’s journey to founding Arch(12:16) - What are you solving with Arch?(14:15) - Who are the customers for Arch?(15:13) - What was your experience raising capital in 2021?(17:14) - What do you lean on VC’s for?(19:20) - How do you break into the VC world and start setting meetings?(20:30) - How long did it take to convince your first major investor?(23:09) - How often do you talk to your investors?(23:25) - What’s “the next stage” of the business?(24:53) - Why was $1mm in revenue the point where you brought in more sales staff?(26:37) - How has your role changed as the company grows?Ryan Interviews Chris(28:17) - Chris’ thoughts on what’s broken in this industry(33:11) - What is and what should your first step be after a major liquidity event?(35:16) - What separates a great advisor from the rest of the pack?(38:27) - Chris’ role as an asset Manager and the purpose of Fort Capital(40:54) - How did you raise your first deals?(42:13) - Where do you see FC in 5 years? 15 years?(43:29) - How is the current market affecting your strategy?(48:43) - Being fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful(52:10)- What would you be building if you had to work somewhere else?

Dec 21, 2022 • 2min
Welcome to The Fort
Dive into the world of business insights and leadership as influential figures share their journeys. Initially focusing on real estate, the conversation now spans various industries, revealing strategies and market dynamics. Discover unique perspectives that can inspire and inform your own ventures. Tune in for valuable lessons that extend beyond business to life itself!

Dec 20, 2022 • 1h 28min
#255: Greg "Gordo" Gordon - Founder/CEO of Gordon Highlander - A Leader On a Mission To Build Something Different
Greg Gordon has a rich history in construction as a third-generation builder with over 25 years of industry experience. He started his career in shell construction and eventually transitioned to commercial interiors before founding Gordon Highlander in 2007. Under Greg’s leadership Gordon Highlander has experienced tremendous growth and received numerous awards as a result. But Greg’s true passion is for people and the relationships developed with both his team and clients. With a servant leadership approach to business, he has built a team of leaders who take ownership and pride in their work. It’s a reflect the organization’s mission of “building a legacy of helping others reach their God-given potential”. Greg attributes Gordon Highlander’s success to this culture model.On this episode Chris and Greg Discuss:
a look into the commercial construction industry from 2007-Present
what it's like to build for Amazon and how they built a prototype in 6 weeks
how Greg views leadership and building a world-class culture
leadership above and beyond "HR"
Support our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital Juniper SquareLinks:Gordon HighlanderGreg on LinkedInTopics:(3:22) - Gordo’s experience as 3rd generation in the Construction industry(5:12) - What does Gordon Highlander do?(7:57) - What is a “Gordon Highlander”?(10:03) - How has Industrial Finish-out evolved since ’07?(15:10) - At what point in development does GH get involved?(18:18) - What does a perfect project look like to you?(19:44) - How do you budget a project in this market?(23:45) - Are there any permanent changes to the industry since 2020?(28:00) - What do people need to unlearn?(31:42) - What are you seeing in Industrial innovation?(36:47) - Developing the GH/Amazon relationship(46:25) - How do you think about the final days of a project?(47:15) - What are you seeing in the market?(51:40) - What’s different in building office within industrial and office in a place like Old-Parkland?(54:52) - How do you think about change orders?(56:35) - The headlines vs. reality pertaining to Amazon slowing down development(58:24) - How do you think about legacy, servant leadership and culture?(1:06:51) - Teaching culture at Gordon Highlander(1:11:36) - Advice for young people(1:12:49) - Friendship, business(1:18:00) - Pain distorts your memory(1:19:51) - Treating your employees like people

Dec 13, 2022 • 1h 33min
#254: Sarah Kennington - Founder of Thirty-Four Commercial - The Queen of Office Leasing
Sarah has 20 years of experience in office brokerage in the DFW region. Prior to founding Thirty-Four Commercial, she was previously a Principal at Peloton Commercial Real Estate (acquired by JLL in 2019) and an Associate at Transwestern. Sarah graduated from Miami University before relocating to Dallas, Texas in 2003. Sarah focuses her life on wellness and balance. In 2018, she obtained a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification. Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and children, as well as traveling whenever their schedule allows. On this episode, Chris and Sarah discuss:
her career stories and the lessons she learned along the way
her view of the current office environment and where we go from here
how to lease Class A Office buildings
how she leased a Class AA office building from the ground up
how she manages a growing family and business
Links:Thirty-Four CommercialThe Purpose-Driven Life by Rick WarrenTopics:(3:21) - Sarah’s career & background(30:11) - What did you learn selling gym memberships that translate to any sales position?(33:01) - What does good training look like for people early in their RE career?(37:53) - How do you build trust with owners?(47:50) - How would you describe the office market today?(59:40) - What’s your process of working in development?(1:01:40) - Where do people waste money in office development?(1:07:53) - How do you approach marketing?(1:11:22) - When are you able to start leasing a building?(1:16:36) - Is there a point where you realize a deal isn’t going to get done?(1:18:43) - What’s your role once a new building is fully leased?(1:20:08) - What needs to happen for a lease to turnover?(1:23:05) - How do you balance building a family and a business?

Dec 6, 2022 • 1h 21min
#253: Anthony "Pomp" Pompliano - Founder of Pomp Investments
Anthony “Pomp” Pompliano is an entrepreneur and technology investor. He has built and sold numerous companies, ran Product & Growth teams at Facebook, and manages a portfolio valued at more than $500 million in early-stage tech companies. He currently runs his family office, which makes private investments and owns majority stakes in several operating businesses. Anthony also hosts popular conversations on “The Pomp Podcast,” which has been downloaded over 50 million times. Pomp also writes a letter that more than 225,000 investors read each morning. Lastly, Pomp’s interests lie at the intersection of finance, technology, entrepreneurship, and economics, which he tweets about extensively to his more than 1.6 million followers.On this episode, Chris & Pomp discuss:
lessons Pomp learned from serving in the army and running product/growth teams at Facebook
the benefits and downsides of being a public figure with large social following
what is bitcoin and why is it important and his understanding of current crypto market
what happened with FTX and its implications on crypto market
Learn more about Chris Powers and Fort Capital: www.FortCapitalLP.comFollow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/Follow Chris on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/FortWorthChris Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ Subscribe to The Fort on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJ32shRt8Od3MxMY-keTSQSupport our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital Links:Pomp on TwitterPompLetter.comThe Pomp Podcast(3:40) - Pomp’s time in the Army and lessons learned(9:18) - Experiences working at Facebook(12:31) - Tech company bloat(15:49) - Elon vs. Apple and if there’s a “they” out there(23:53) - How did you build your online presence?(28:19) - Have you self-censored since growing this massive audience?(32:39) - Pomp on shutting down The Best Business Show(35:47) - Is there a pathway that gets us to an internet that doesn’t incentivize ridiculousness?(37:49) - How did crypto enter your life?(41:02) - What is Bitcoin?(47:43) - Is there any version of the “promise” of Bitcoin that is playing out right now?(49:30) - Is there a point where the volatility of Bitcoin stops?(54:32) - Cryptocurrencies and Governments(1:00:13) - How would you pitch Bitcoin to governments?(1:08:05) - Breaking down the FTX fiasco(1:16:59) - Pomp’s experience at a LIV Golf Event

Nov 29, 2022 • 60min
#252: Jon Altschuler - Founder of Altschuler + Co - Dallas Office Market Past vs. Current vs. Future & 20+ years of lessons learned
Jon Altschuler is the founder of Altschuler and Company and has been involved in all phases of the firm’s development since its founding in 2009. He started his career with Trammell Crow Company and was the president of Stream Realty Partners. Jon is the chairman of the SMU Dedman College executive board.Jon is a graduate of Southern Methodist University where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa. Jon earned his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. On this episode, Chris and John discuss:
The current state of the office market and forward-looking thoughts.
Best practices for building a successful career in real estate.
Future of co-working and office leases.
What will happen to Class B office properties?
Learn more about Chris Powers and Fort Capital: www.FortCapitalLP.comFollow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/Follow Chris on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/FortWorthChris Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ Subscribe to The Fort on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJ32shRt8Od3MxMY-keTSQSupport our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital Links:Jon on LinkedInAltschuler + Co.Topics:(3:18) - Introducing Jon(4:50) - What is it about Trammel Crowe that creates so many all-start caliber RE people?(6:36) - Jon’s career in RE(8:25) - What was your perspective on the GFC?(10:41) - What does Altschuler + Co. do?(11:20) - What was the narrative back in ’07 vs. ’09 from the building-owner perspective?(14:09) - How would you describe the current market for Office?(18:37) - Tech-Giant Sub-leases(20:39) - Stranded Buildings(22:26) - Do you have any insight on the mounting developer debt?(23:33) - What do you predict for development?(24:23) - What are we experiencing in DFW?(26:21) - What does a great future for Office look like?(27:11) - Are you seeing any clustering of businesses similar to Old Parkland?(28:05) - Thoughts on co-working(30:02) - What’s the difference between a great leasing agent and a terrible one?(32:47) - What should tenants with 2 years on their lease left be thinking about?(34:46) - Are there any new amenities that are making buildings more competitive?(36:08) - What markets pique your interest?(37:10) - How does your job change as the tenant gets larger?(38:57) - How are tenants thinking about risk of leasing spaces that aren’t ready?(41:05) - What are you seeing in capital markets for Office?(41:45) - What’s the narrative for Dallas?(42:49) - What would you tell new people in the industry as we stare at a potential downturn?(44:02) - Who developed your marketing strategy?(45:14) - How are you preparing your team for the next 2-3 years?(45:52) - How did you develop your knack to outwork everyone?(48:28) - Becoming a Global Citizen(55:11) - What can Fort Worth do better to attract businesses?

Nov 22, 2022 • 1h 24min
#251: Kevin Lackey - President of Freedom Powersports - Selling Freedom, Market Overview since COVID, and prioritizing what's important.
Kevin Lackey is the President and CEO of Freedom Powersports, a dealership group based out of Fort Worth, Texas with 13 locations spanning three states. His career in the powersports industry started in 1998 where he worked his way up from a porter to manager to general manager and now owner and operator. Through strong leadership skills, dedication to operational excellence, and commitment to the industry he helped grow Freedom Powersports from $34.8M in sales in 2012 to a project of $157M in sales for 2021. Outside of Freedom Powersports, Kevin is on the Board of Directors for First Financial Bank, Motorcycle Industry Council, Yamaha Financial Services Council, BRP Dealer Advisory Council, Yamaha Financial Services Dealer Council, Texas Motorcycle Dealers Association, YPO Fort Worth Chapter Member and is on the Advisory Board for National Center for Middle Market. In 2019 Kevin was named the Entrepreneur of Excellence for the category of retail for Fort Worth Inc. Magazine and in 2016 he was named to the 40 under 40 by the Fort Worth Business Press. With continued growth on his mind, he has also become an active member of his community in Aledo, TX, started a podcast, and is always looking for the next opportunity. On this episode Chris and Kevin discuss:
Deepdive into powersports industry since COVID.
Best practices learned over the years that helped build a great team and business.
What he’s glad he did for the business so that it was easier to sell. (Sold to Rumble On.)
Why Kevin has built a life that balances his family life with a demanding work schedule.
Links:Kevin on LinkedInEpisode #4 of The Fort with Kevin LackeyThe House that Built Me by Miranda LambertSupport our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital Topics:(3:25) - Reminiscing(4:54) - How would you describe your business?(6:02) - What happened to Powersports during Covid?(9:20) - Why does focus matter so much?(12:05) - The power of EOS(17:15) - How did you navigate the Pandemic? (30:23) - Is there anything you learned in the early months that will serve you the rest of your life?(32:58) - When did you start to consider the process of selling the business?(45:29) - What are the things you’re happy you did to get the business ready for a successful sale?(49:27) - How did you delegate duties to your CFO?(51:34) - Net Working Capital(1:02:16) - Are there things you wish you’d done to get the business ready for a successful sale?(1:04:22) - The experience of closing on the sale(1:09:09) - The importance of Fatherhood

Nov 15, 2022 • 2h 5min
#250: David Senra - Founders Podcast - The DNA of a Founder
David Senra is the Founder of Founders Podcast. David has devoted his career to learning from history's greatest entrepreneurs. David is on a mission to document the best ideas from the life and work of history’s most formidable people —and share those lessons through his podcast so others can benefit. He lives in Miami with his wife and two children. On this episode, Chris and David discuss:
His story and the challenges he faced growing up that shaped who he is today.
Building his pod – a peak inside what an average week looks like.
A deep dive discussion on founder characteristics and everything he's learned from reading hundreds of auto-biographies on the world's most extraordinary founders.
A discussion on the economics and business of podcasting.
Learn more about Chris Powers and Fort Capital: www.FortCapitalLP.comFollow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/Follow Chris on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/FortWorthChris Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ Subscribe to The Fort on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJ32shRt8Od3MxMY-keTSQSupport our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital More on David Senra:David on TwitterListen to Founders PodcastLinks to Books, Apps, Websites, etc. Mentioned on this episode:Sam Walton Autobiography Paul Graham essaysJocko PodcastThe Everything StoreKanye West Netflix documentaryMichael Arrieta on The Fort (Garden City)Trader Joe’s AutobiographyReadwise AppBecoming Steve JobsCharles Kettering BiographyA Man For All MarketsDark Genius of Wall StreetTopics:(3:58) - Introducing David(6:11) - David’s background(15:32) - David’s passion for reading(17:00) - Reflecting on how we are shaped by our past(22:37) - Do you think it’s possible to build a generational business without childhood trauma?(30:20) - What led to you starting the podcast?(43:36) - What kept you going during your first 2 years when the show wasn’t profitable?(1:06:55) - What does a week in the life of David Senra look like?(1:15:07) - What was it about your appearance on ‘Invest like the Best’ that exploded the show?(1:20:09) - How big is the opportunity for podcasting?(1:50:46)- Of everyone you have studied, who is the #1 person in your eyes?The Fort is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Nov 8, 2022 • 1h 14min
#249: Cody Campbell - Co-CEO of Double Eagle Energy IV - A $6.4B Transaction, Energy Markets & Policy, NCAA / NIL
Cody Campbell is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Double Eagle Energy Holdings III LLC, a partnership formed with Apollo Global Management, and co-founder of Double Eagle Development. Campbell began his business career at Texas Tech University, where he and John Sellers founded a successful commercial real estate development firm. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s in finance and economics and a master’s in finance. After graduation, he played offensive guard for the Indianapolis Colts.Campbell is a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization), serves on the Advisory Council for the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech, and serves as a Board Member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife and four children.On this episode, Chris and Cody discuss:
The story of their $6.4B sale to Pioneer.
Discussion on current energy markets and policy.
Why we need to change the narrative on oil & gas to attract more labor into the industry.
We talk about the NCAA & NIL programs and how Texas Tech has built The Matador Club to support athletes.
Support our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital Juniper SquareLearn more about Chris Powers and Fort Capital: www.FortCapitalLP.comFollow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/Follow Chris on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/FortWorthChris Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ Subscribe to The Fort on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJ32shRt8Od3MxMY-keTSQTopics:(4:31) - Selling Double Eagle 3 to Pioneer(8:33) - Why was the industry valuing on a price per acre vs. EBITDA?(10:21) - What do “bits & pieces” mean and how are you able to do it at scale?(13:12) - Have there been 2 types of oil businesses that emerged since the shale revolution?(14:01) - Was there ever a moment during the pandemic when you considered not drilling?(15:00) - When did it become clear that selling was the best option?(19:20) - What blows up a deal like this?(20:13) - Starting back up again(22:02) - What are you seeing in the current state of the energy market?(30:24) - Is there any shift in the capital markets?(32:29) - Why has the Biden Admin shifted its stance on domestic production?(34:49) - How much of an impact does the Russia/Ukraine conflict have?(36:42) - What are you seeing in the labor market for Energy and Oil & Gas?(38:57) - How can the industry change its marketing efforts to encourage people to work in this field?(40:30) - How does this industry bring the rest of the world out of poverty?(43:21) - What’s happening outside of the US as we globally see energy prices spike?(44:47) - Even if we all flipped to a pro-oil stance instantly, how deep are we in the hole already?(47:19) - What are the different acreage tiers in oil fields?(50:16) - If oil is at $92 today, what’s the rate of return for drilling a well?(51:50) - Is there any technology on the horizon that will make it easier to get oil out of the ground?(53:01) - Why did the Kline Shale flop?(54:55) - Why did the Permian basin end up being such a hit?(55:48) - Where do you think we will peak in 2023?(57:02) - What is the NIL within the NCAA?(1:01:29) - The Matador Club at Texas Tech(1:04:33) - Is there a worry that the schools with the most capital secede and create their own league?(1:06:14) - Focusing athletes on their education(1:08:08) - Who’s making the rules for NIL?(1:09:05) - What is it that continues to motivate you?The Fort is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Nov 1, 2022 • 47min
#248: Zamir Kazi - Founder & CEO of ZMR Capital - $0 to 1.7B of Multifamily Assets in 9 years
Zamir Kazi started his career in Real Estate in 2013 after attending Florida State University buying and flipping duplexes. He formed Berkshire Property Holdings in 2014 (later rebranded to ZMR Capital) to acquire and redevelop multifamily Real Estate. In the past 9 years, as CEO of ZMR Capital, Zamir has acquired over $1.5B of multifamily assets.He has been the recipient of Globe Streets 50 under 40 and is an active investor and board member of multiple early-stage companies. Zamir also contributes significant time and resources to several charities.On this episode Chris and Zamir discuss:
How he started his career in real estate.
How ZMR Capital creates value in the assets they acquire.
How ZMR selects markets to invest in.
Current state of the multi-family market.
Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/Follow Chris on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/FortWorthChris Follow Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrispowersjr/ Subscribe to The Fort on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJ32shRt8Od3MxMY-keTSQFollow The Fort on Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheFortPodcastSupport our Sponsors:Frank Kent CadillacCRE Daily Newsletter Fort Capital CRE ModelsJuniper SquareLinks:Zamir on LinkedInZMR CapitalTopics:(3:52) - Zamir’s background and career(7:05) - What is it about Indian culture that wants their children to become doctors?(9:17) - How were you financing as you began to do bigger deals and turn this into a firm with employees?(11:22) - Did you manage properties yourself?(12:12) - How did you convince people to give you a deal without a track record?(15:09) - How were sourcing deals and why did you choose the markets you’re in?(16:40) - Have you stayed 3rd party on Property Management?(22:47) - What is an ideal Class A or B deal and how do you add value?(26:02) - Do you outsource construction & asset management?(27:24) - Do you send PM’s the same chart of accounts or do they each account differently?(28:15) - Do you have a 90-day game plan after closing a deal?(29:29) - How do you raise capital today?(30:25) - How are you thinking about the market right now?(32:52) - Is bridge debt still in the mix for you on deals you’re doing right now?(34:29) - Are rents still moving fast?(37:08) - Is there anything you’re seeing that could cause a major correction in MF pricing?(41:10) - Why are people selling right now given market conditions?(42:30) - How are you thinking about the tailwind given to MF by high mortgage interest rates?(43:50) - What do you see for your business over the next decade?The Fort is produced by Johnny Podcasts


