MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries

In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, Jainil Shah sits down with Sally Ann Flood, U.S. Real Estate Sector Leader at Deloitte, for a thoughtful conversation on navigating today’s real estate cycle with judgment and conviction.Drawing on her research and decades of experience across multiple market cycles, Sally Ann shares why the current moment represents a pause rather than a stop, how leaders should think about decision-making under uncertainty, and what separates firms that emerge stronger from those that stall. The discussion explores capital availability, the growing role of private credit, collaboration through joint ventures, and how data, experience, and long-term perspective come together in real-world decisions.A timely and grounded conversation for students, investors, and operators seeking clarity amid complexity. Interview by: Jainil Shah, MSRED Candidate 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-meLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01ELearn more: https://www.deloitte.com/

In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MSRED student Michael Khamis speaks with MaryAnne Gilmartin, Founder and CEO of MAG Partners, about what it means to build cities with conviction, purpose, and long-term vision. MaryAnne traces her path from public service in New York City’s economic development ecosystem to leading transformative real estate projects in the city, including the Barclays Center, the New York Times Building, and New York by Gehry. The conversation explores MaryAnne’s decision to launch MAG Partners, grounded in a belief that a development firm can be both principled and profitable. She discusses navigating capital formation through volatile cycles, the importance of patient capital, and why she continues to bet on New York City despite political and market headwinds. MaryAnne also offers a candid assessment of housing policy, public-sector collaboration, and what functional public–private partnerships require.MaryAnne reflects on MAG Partners’ mission-driven approach to development, including naming buildings after unsung women leaders and designing projects that prioritize beauty, sustainability, and community impact. As she states, “An urban developer can lift a city,” a sentiment that portrays both the responsibility and opportunity embedded in the profession.Interview by: Michael Khamis / MSRED 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Michael Khamis / Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-meLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01ELearn more: https://magpartners.com

In this episode, we meet with Chris Bilotto, Executive Vice President at The RMR Group, and President & CEO of both Diversified Healthcare Trust and Service Properties Trust. With leadership roles spanning healthcare real estate, hospitality, and a diverse portfolio of operating properties, Chris shares how he navigates the complexities of managing large, dynamic real estate platforms.From lessons in operational excellence to the evolving demands of healthcare assets and the future of service-oriented real estate, Chris offers insights shaped by decades of hands-on experience. He discusses RMR’s integrated approach, the importance of aligning operations with long-term value creation, and what it means to lead teams through thoughtful business practice.Whether you’re interested in REIT management, sector-specific challenges, or broader leadership wisdom, learn from an experienced executive driving strategy across multiple major real estate trusts.Interview by: Shagun Kalra MSRED Candidate 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Shagun Kalra / Lacey CochranMusic from ⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-...⁠⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

In this episode, host Michael Khamis, a student in the MIT Master of Science in Real Estate Development program, sits down with EvanRegan-Levine, Chief Strategy Officer at JBG SMITH (NYSE: JBGS)—one of the most influential real estate owners and developers in the Washington, D.C. region. Together, they explore how JBG SMITH is reshaping urban districts through data-driven strategy, digital infrastructure, and long-term placemaking. Evan shares insights into the transformation of National Landing—home to Amazon HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus—and discusses how the firm’s contrarian bets on adaptive reuse and smart-city infrastructure are positioning it for the next generation of mixed-use development. The conversation spans from strategy to execution, revealing how JBG SMITH blends technology, capital-markets insight, and long-term vision to create lasting value for its shareholders. Evan reflects on the evolution of National Landing into a connected innovation district and the lessons learned in building an ecosystem anchored by Amazon, Virginia Tech, and the Pentagon. He discusses the firm’s growing pipeline of adaptive-reuse projects—from Tysons Dulles Plaza to Bell Street—and how these efforts are redefining the urban fabric of the D.C. region. Along the way, Evan unpacks the importance of higher-education anchors in fueling innovation economies and shares how JBG SMITH balances visionary placemaking with the discipline of a public-company framework, from share buybacks to portfolio repositioning.Whether your interests lie in urban transformation, smart infrastructure, or the future of real-estate strategy, this episode displays how visionary leadership and disciplined execution intersect to shape the cities of tomorrow.Interview by: Michael Khamis / MSRED Candidate 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Michael Khamis / Lacey CochranMusic from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠:⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-...⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01ELearn more: https://www.jbgsmith.com

In this episode, Shotaro Fujisawa, founder of Yamori (ヤモリ), joins us to discuss how his Tokyo-based startup is reimagining Japan’s housing market.Founded in 2019, Yamori tackles Japan’s growing vacant-home crisis by acquiring and rehabilitating underused properties, turning them into affordable rentals for overlooked groups such as foreign workers, single-parent families, and young renters. Beyond renovation, the company builds digital tools for landlords, offers beginner-friendly real estate education, and integrates smart home technology to improve safety and accessibility for elderly tenants.In this conversation, Shotaro explains the economic and cultural forces driving Japan’s vacant-home problem and how Yamori’s data-driven, community-based model is restoring both housing supply and social trust. Yamori is leveraging a special purpose company (SPC) model, a form of public-private partnership with local municipalities, to finance its projects and deliver affordable housing at scale.Shotaro’s story captures the courage, ingenuity, and resilience it takes to build from the ground up—showing how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can transform communities and redefine what housing means in Japan.Interview by: Cherry Tang / MSRED Candidate 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Cherry Tang / Lacey CochranMusic from ⁠#Uppbeat⁠:⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-...⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01ELearn more: https://www.yamori.co.jp

In this episode MSRED students Isabelle Turri and Cherry Tang sit down with David Blumenfeld, Co-Founder of NextRivet, to explore how technology and data-driven strategy are reshaping the real estate industry.From uncovering the true operational needs of Real Estate firms to crafting tailored tech solutions that enhance decision-making and efficiency, David shares how NextRivet’s consultative approach is redefining what it means to be a technology partner in real estate. The conversation dives into the intersection of business strategy, innovation, and the human side of digital transformation; revealing why understanding the why behind the problem is just as critical as building the solution.Interview by: Isabelle Turri and Cherry Tang / MSRED Candidates 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Cherry Tang / Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-...License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

In this episode, architect and urban planner Janet Marie Smith joins us to reflect on her career shaping some of baseball’s most beloved ballparks. Her work has redefined the role of sports venues as engines of urban vitality and cultural identity.At Oriole Park, Janet Marie helped pioneer the “retro” ballpark movement that reconnected stadiums with their urban surroundings. In Boston, she led the modernization of Fenway Park, balancing preservation with progress. Moving west to Dodger Stadium, Janet Marie honored a mid-century icon while creating a more vibrant, inclusive fan experience. “A great ballpark,” she notes, “isn’t sustained by architecture alone but by the energy it inspires.” Her challenge was to distinguish what made the stadium’s design timeless from what had simply become dated. The resulting updates, including the new Centerfield Plaza, created a lively fan experience that celebrates Los Angeles’ culture and diversity.Now through The Canopy Team, Janet Marie continues to champion community-driven development, showing that great ballparks, like great cities, are defined not by their structures but by the people who bring them to life.Interview by: Cherry Tang / MSRED Candidate 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Cherry Tang / Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-meLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01ELearn more about The Canopy Team: https://canopyteam.com/

In this episode of Meet the Visionaries, MSRED student Michael Khamis sits down with Jay Parsons, one of the industry’s renowned rental housing economists and strategists,  for a deep dive into the forces shaping housing and capital markets in 2025 and beyond. From the ripple effects of immigration policy on construction labor and project feasibility to the rent slowdown, shifting housing policy, and the limits of monetary easing, Jay unpacks the data and narratives driving today’s real estate economy. The conversation also explores the 2025–2026 supply peak, evolving migration patterns, and what REIT earnings can tell us about the road ahead for multifamily performance and valuation.Interview by: Michael Khamis / MSRED 2026Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Michael Khamis / Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-meLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

In this episode, we sit down with Aun Abdullah, Vice President of Lodha Group and head of the Environment and Sustainable Urbanization agenda at the Lodha Foundation. Aun leads the Net Zero Urban Accelerator, a partnership between Lodha and the RMI India Foundation, and his work spans every scale of the built environment—from ultra-efficient buildings to the design of Palava, a planned urban township built on the 5-10-15 neighborhood planning principle. Aun is shaping India’s national decarbonization and urbanization pathway. We explore the personal side of Aun’s journey: what first sparked his passion for climate-positive development, how he became involved in the creation of Palava, and the lessons it offers for cities worldwide. Along the way, Aun discusses how policy, industry practices, and market forces must evolve in sync to make efficiency and sustainability a defining principle of construction. With 100 million Indian households projected to enter homeownership in the coming decade, Aun situates Lodha Group’s work within the larger challenge of creating livable, economically viable, and low-carbon urban spaces.Interview by: Soala Ajienka / MSRED 2025Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction: Soala Ajienka / Lacey CochranMusic from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/mark-july/dance-with-meLicense code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E

In this episode, we welcome the dynamic and inspiring Nicholas Edelman, CEO and Founder of surf park development company Aventuur. Aventuur is on a mission is to create exceptional surfing destinations and experiences that generate meaningful social and economic value. To do this, the company's secured the rights to the world’s leading wave-generating technology – the Wavegarden Cove – in markets across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Fiji. They currently have three projects in active development.In our conversation, we dig deep into the business case for surf parks, including the unit economics, demand drivers, and secular trends that make it one of the hottest niches in commercial real estate right now. Nick also shares his personal journey - one filled with a love of sport, nature, and personal connection - and how he came to found Aventuur with a friend from graduate school and the backing of some heavy-hitting investors.Listeners will surely want to stay till the end to hear Nick provide an incredible anecdote about the early days of the company. From the beginning, though, this conversation is truly a masterclass in humble leadership, passion, and commercial real estate fundamentals.Interview by: Robby Mulcahy / MSRED Candidate 2025Director: Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Robby MulcahyMusic from ⁠⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://uppbeat.io/track/mark-july/dance-with-me?rt=uc-referral⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01E