MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries

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 listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and in its first ten years as a public company, its shares have appreciated more than 800%. The firm was also #17 on Fortune’s 2017 list of “Fastest Growing Public Companies” and has been named a Best Workplace for eight of the last eleven years by the Great Place to Work® Institute. Mr. Walker received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011, was named “Financier of the Year” in 2017 and 2020 by Commercial Property Executive and was selected as a Most Admired CEO by the Denver Business Journal in 2024.Willy shares the story of how he came to helm Walker & Dunlop, his early vision for the company, and how he's grown it from a modest, local real estate firm to one of the most recognized international real estate advisory companies in the world. He discusses the origin of his incredibly successful podcast, the Walker Webcast, as well as his approach to social media and brand building. We dive into Willy's thoughts on the state of the commercial real estate market today, and then end with a fun lightning round of questions in which Willy offers some great insight. Throughout, Willy provides heaps of advice for students, and young and mid-career professionals alike. His experience, deep understanding of capital markets, and quick wit make this episode a truly delightful and informative listen. Interview by: Robby Mulcahy / MSRED Candidate 2025Director:  Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Robby Mulcahy, Soala AjienkaMusic from ⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

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 estate.As head of research, Greg’s vantage point cuts across market cycles and geographic boundaries, giving him clear insight into how institutions are broadening their horizons, innovating through new construction methods, and even democratizing real estate for retail investors. He also expands on how rising insurance costs and climate events are making resilience a top priority for portfolios.  Tune in to discover how Greg’s bird’s-eye view at PREA illuminates the forces shaping a more inclusive, agile, and forward-thinking real estate landscape. Papers: MultifamilyRisk ExposureInterview by Soala Ajienka | MArch, MSRED 2025Director:  Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Soala AjienkaMusic from ⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

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 efficiency, and proactive climate-risk planning can enhance both asset value and environmental resilience. Listen in to learn about the evolving industry benchmarks that guide sustainability strategies, plus tangible ways investors can future-proof properties against climate shocks. Whether you’re new to real estate or a seasoned industry professional, this episode offers fresh perspectives on balancing profitability with sustainability.Papers: LaSalle, The Value of Green 2023JLL, Demand for Sustainable Buildings 2023Interview by Soala Ajienka | MArch, MSRED 2025Director:  Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Soala AjienkaMusic from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

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 other special-use facilities, with an emphasis on bespoke strategy and tailored design for each end-user. Kabir shares his own career journey, from growing up in Dubai to his studies at UC Berkeley, an early career in investment banking, and eventually partnering with PBV Managing Partner Cyrus Sanandaji to work first with public sector tenants and then strategically enter private development for a variety of uses.  He reflects on the state of the San Francisco real estate market, particularly in the context of the "doom-loop" narrative of the past few years, and why he thinks the city remains an excellent geography for investors and developers willing to adapt. We dive into several of Presidio Bay Ventures' most recent office projects, including Springline, the firm's "office resort" concept that's proved to be a smashing success.  Kabir's insights and candor make this episode a truly inspiring and thoughtful listen. Tune in for another great conversation with the visionary Kabir Seth. Interview by Robby Mulcahy | MSRED 2025Director:  Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Robby Mulcahy, Soala AjienkaMusic from ⁠#Uppbeat⁠: https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referralLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

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 Center for Sustainability in Real Estate at ULI. AJ shares his fundamental understanding of macroeconomic conditions impacting the demand for affordable and workforce housing in gateway and growing cities, navigating public policy to establish competitive solutions to reducing housing prices for cost-burdened renters, and LEO’s unique organizational structure in solving for the “missing middle.” With inflation and capital constraints impacting the public and private markets, housing remains at the forefront of national conversations. AJ offers listeners an abundance of knowledge on ways operators can leverage policy, public benefits, and technology to level the playing field. Tune in to learn how the private markets are paving the way for a future in workforce housing. Interview by: Dean Firouzian / MSRED Candidate 2025 Produced by: Lacey Cochran Music: #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-me License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

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 Center for Real Estate, this episode delves into the current state of the real estate market and Joe’s role in navigating its complexities. He shares insights about investments in data centers and energy storage infrastructure, as well as strategies for transforming struggling office markets through public-private partnerships and incentive programs to achieve their highest and best use. Interview by: Dean Firouzian / MSRED Candidate 2025 Music from #Uppbeat License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

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 designed to integrate a whole-life carbon perspective into projects. The conversation also explores her Yale course, Bad Buildings: Decarbonization through Reuse, Retrofit, and Proposition, which equips the next generation of architects with tools to tackle the challenges of sustainable, smart design.   As the challenges of sustainability in our buildings grows more complex, Tess reflects on the opportunities for architects and developers to collaborate in shaping resilient, future-ready spaces. Tune in to learn how Tess McNamara is inspiring meaningful change at the forefront of sustainable design and education.    Interview by: Robby Mulcahy / MSRED Candidate 2025 Music from #Uppbeat License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

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 initiatives, she is unlocking new opportunities to drive value through ESG-focused strategies. Our conversation delves into Harrison Street's expertise in identifying, acquiring, and managing alternative real assets, exploring how leadership is navigating the current market cycle. We discuss the evolving landscape of ESG in the built environment, highlighting Harrison Street's role in fostering partnerships that create operational and sustainable synergies. Around the world, project leaders are finding innovative ways to scale capacity for the growing technology and data sectors, and Harrison Street is at the forefront of these transformations. Tune in to discover how forward-thinking leaders like Jill Brosig are shaping the future of real estate — one bold initiative at a time. Interview by: Dean Firouzian / MSRED Candidate Produced by: Lacey Cochran Music from ⁠#Uppbeat⁠ License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

Thure Krarup, Head of Global Stakeholder Relations at Urban Partners, discusses creating sustainable, livable cities. He dives into collaborative initiatives like 'Green and Thriving Neighborhoods' with C40 Cities, focusing on equity and health. The conversation highlights the importance of trust in public-private partnerships. Thure also addresses the 'Leaders of the Urban Future' project, advocating for resilience in real estate. Explore innovative solutions for urban transformation and the urgency of creating 15-minute cities to enhance community living.

In this engaging discussion, Dror Poleg, an Economic Historian and author of Rethinking Real Estate, shares insights into how technology is transforming work and urban environments. He discusses the shift to a nonlinear economy influenced by the entertainment industry and the importance of adaptability in business strategies. Dror emphasizes the need for flexible real estate regulations to accommodate changing demands and explores the dual challenges and opportunities that arise from decentralization and emerging technologies in the industry.