MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries

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

In the final episode of season two, we meet with Gregory Dewerpe, the Founder and Partner of NOA (formerly A/O), Europe's leading venture capital firm pioneering the transformation of the real estate and construction industries. Driven by a critical mission to decarbonize the built world and enhance its sustainability, Gregory brings a visionary and investment-focused perspective to identifying and scaling the innovative technologies essential for this transition. Sam Jakshtis (current MSRED student) and Gregory discuss how NOA's strategic investments are not just funding companies, but actively shaping a more efficient, resilient, and healthier future for how we build, live, and interact with our physical environment.Interview by Sam Jakshtis | MSRED 2025Director:  Denise DeLoreyProduction by: Lacey CochranMusic from ⁠⁠#Uppbeat⁠⁠License code: KQAWWN4CWQXDF01Ehttps://cre.mit.edu/

Dave Burt, Founder and CEO of DeltaTerra Capital, leads the charge in addressing climate risks in real estate. With a strong background in managing macro portfolios, he offers sharp insights on how climate change is reshaping property values and investment strategies. Burt discusses the critical need for updated risk models, especially in light of increasing weather disruptions. He also sheds light on misconceptions in mortgage markets, highlighting disparities between commercial and residential properties. Adaptation to these challenges is vital for the future of real estate.

In this episode, we're incredibly excited to welcome Brad Hargreaves and Paul Stanton of Thesis Driven.Thesis Driven's flagship online newsletter is widely considered one of the more thought-provoking and well-written real estate publications today, diving deep into emerging real estate themes, technologies, and funding models. The brand has grown in the past few years to include a podcast, an online and in-person learning platform, and a developer database that inventories hundreds of qualified, active real estate developers and owners. In this conversation, we discuss how Brad & Paul came together to form Thesis Driven, the platform's evolution, and what they see at the frontier of innovation in commercial real estate. Co-hosted by MIT graduate students Robby Mulcahy and Dean Firouzian, this conversation is a fun, free-flowing round table, full of thoughtful insights and fascinating anecdotes. Paul and Brad share a wealth of knowledge and years of experience founding, operating, and exiting successful real estate ventures, and their insider perspective is second-to-none.Interview by: Robby Mulcahy / MSRED Candidate 2025, Dean Firouzian / 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/

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/