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Leading Voices in Real Estate

Leading Voices in Real Estate

Hosted by Matt Slepin

BusinessCareersSocietyCultureInterviews guests
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Episodes

226

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

The Leading Voices in Real Estate podcast series interviews some of the most successful, interesting, entrepreneurial people who shape our cities and the built environment. Host Matt Slepin gets to the personal side not often heard from these legends and visionaries, their career stories and advice, and their role in creating vibrant communities with character, beauty, and a high quality of life.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 4, 20261 hr 7 min

Mike McNamara | Samara

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin speaks with Mike McNamara, co-founder and CEO of Samara, an innovative homebuilder focused on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and small-scale infill housing. A company incubated within Airbnb's venture arm, Samara is rethinking how factory-built homes can help address both the housing shortage and climate challenges.Mike shares how his experience leading global manufacturing company Flex shaped Samara's approach to scalable, high-quality home production, and discusses why smaller, neighborhood-based development can play an important role alongside larger multifamily projects. As part of Leading Voices' annual Climate Month series, the conversation explores the intersection of housing, sustainability, and the future of the built environment.

July 21, 202644 min

Rebroadcast: From the Archive – Phil Freelon on Architecture and Impact

In this special rebroadcast of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin revisits his 2017 conversation with acclaimed architect Phil Freelon of Perkins & Will, one of the lead designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Recorded shortly after the museum’s opening, the conversation reflects on Phil’s vision, impact, and legacy during a deeply personal time as he battled ALS.Revisited during a recent Fourth of July, this episode offers a thoughtful look back at a moment when national landmarks like the National Mall and institutions like the Smithsonian served as powerful symbols of unity. Phil’s insights on architecture, culture, and purpose remain as relevant today as ever.

July 7, 20261 hr 14 min

Casey Berman | Camber Creek

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with Casey Berman, Founder and Managing Partner of Camber Creek, a private equity firm investing in innovative real estate technology and cash-flowing assets. Part of the podcast’s ongoing proptech VC series, the conversation explores how real estate operators are leveraging technology to solve persistent industry pain points and build more integrated, competitive business platforms.Drawing from his experience as both an operator and investor, Casey shares insights on how fragmented tech solutions are evolving into cohesive systems that drive efficiency, differentiation, and long-term value. The discussion also highlights the growing importance of forward-thinking leadership across operations, technology, finance, and people functions—roles that are critical for companies aiming to compete in the next real estate cycle.This episode offers valuable perspective for real estate leaders navigating digital transformation and building high-performing, future-ready organizations.

June 16, 20261 hr 0 min

Darrell Crate | Easterly Government Properties

In this podcast episode, Matt Slepin speaks with Darrell Crate, CEO of Easterly Government Properties, about the company’s differentiated investment strategy as a net lease REIT focused on mission-critical properties leased to U.S. government agencies. While often associated with traditional office and the DC market, Easterly’s portfolio tells a different story, with limited office exposure and a broader geographic footprint. Crate shares his perspective on the company’s positioning between underperforming office REITs and strong net lease peers, highlighting a potential pricing mismatch and investment opportunity. The conversation also touches on the role of outsourcing in government real estate, market perceptions of stability, and Easterly’s broader mission to support and improve government operations.

June 2, 20261 hr 3 min

Kate Walsh | Dean of the Nolan School of Hotel Administration Cornell University

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with retiring Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration Dean Kate Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving role of hospitality within real estate and business leadership. Recorded during Walsh’s final month as Dean, the discussion explores Cornell’s outsized influence on the global hotel industry and the powerful network and culture that have shaped generations of hospitality leaders.The episode goes beyond hotels to examine how hospitality principles—service, operations, resident experience, and organizational culture—are increasingly influencing other real estate sectors, especially multifamily housing. Slepin connects these themes to broader industry shifts toward operational excellence, technology integration, and customer-centric leadership. Drawing on both personal travel experiences and professional insights from executive recruiting at ZRG, the conversation highlights why hospitality mindsets are becoming essential across the real estate landscape.

May 19, 20261 hr 0 min

Margette Hepfner & Sam Bakshandehpour | Bilt

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features a conversation with Margette Hepfner and Sam Bakshandehpour of BILT, a platform bringing hospitality and rewards into the multifamily housing space. The discussion explores how BILT fits into the broader apartment ecosystem and highlights a larger industry shift toward a more customer-focused, service-driven model.Building on insights from recent conversations and industry events, the episode underscores how differentiation in today’s market is increasingly happening at the operator level. As ownership remains relatively fragmented, operators are consolidating and investing in technology, platform capabilities, and hospitality-driven experiences to better serve residents. Strong service not only enhances customer satisfaction but can also drive tangible business outcomes like rent growth, retention, and overall performance.The episode also touches on the growing importance of industry reputation and the need for a more customer-oriented approach to help mitigate regulatory pressures. Overall, this conversation reinforces the idea that the future of multifamily real estate will be shaped by those who prioritize service, platform thinking, and the resident experience.

May 5, 20261 hr 8 min

Jay Parsons | Host of Rent Roll Podcast & Rental Housing Economist, Consultant and Speaker

A wide-ranging conversation with economist and Rent Roll podcast host Jay Parsons on the current state of the apartment industry and adjacent sectors, including single-family rentals (SFR), build-to-rent (BTR), student, and senior housing. Jay shares key market trends, regulatory challenges, and myth-busting insights, most notably that while property management has consolidated, ownership in the multifamily sector remains highly fragmented. The episode offers a thoughtful look at how scale, operations, and evolving market dynamics are shaping the future of housing.

April 21, 20261 hr 2 min

Horacio Rodríguez Larreta | Former Mayor of Buenos Aires and Argentina Presidential Candidate

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features a conversation with Argentine politician Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, recorded in Buenos Aires at the end of Matt Slepin’s South American trip. Unlike the previous episode focused on real estate investment in Chile, this discussion centers less on property markets and more on leadership, governance, and the economic challenges facing Argentina.Larreta shares his perspective on navigating political leadership in a country marked by ongoing economic instability, explaining why Argentina remains difficult for institutional real estate investment. The conversation explores the importance of political moderation and consistency in creating long-term stability, as well as his broader vision for the country’s future.While real estate topics are touched on, the episode ultimately offers a deeper look at how politics, economic policy, and leadership intersect in shaping investment environments, along with reflections on Argentina’s resilience and global significance despite its challenges.

April 7, 20261 hr 15 min

Francisco Rencoret | Territoria

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin sits down with Francisco Rencoret for a live conversation recorded atop the landmark mixed-use development MUT in Santiago.Slepin reflects on his travels through Chile, highlighting the country’s modern infrastructure, vibrant urban energy, and the success of large-scale developments like MUT as standout examples of placemaking. He also shares observations on Chile’s geographic diversity, welcoming culture, and appeal as both a travel destination and business environment.The episode weaves in broader insights on Chile’s political and economic stability, shaped by its history, including perspectives tied to Augusto Pinochet, setting the stage for a conversation that blends real estate, culture, and global context.

March 17, 20261 hr 4 min

Justin Pattner | KKR

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin sits down with Justin Pattner, Head of Real Estate Equity, Americas at KKR, for a wide-ranging conversation recorded on February 26. The discussion explores the major forces shaping today’s real estate investment landscape, including global capital flows, the evolution of REITs in comparison to private equity and traditional real estate investment managers, and the role of operating platforms versus partnerships with external operators.Matt also shares his perspective as both a recruiter and interviewer, emphasizing that the most authentic insights into leadership often emerge not from scripted responses, but from the open space within longer, more candid conversations. Through this lens, his discussion with Justin moves fluidly across KKR’s real estate strategy, the firm’s investment approach, how it differentiates itself in the market, and Justin’s role within the broader platform.The episode blends industry expertise with a thoughtful exploration of leadership, culture, and the passion that drives professionals across the real estate sector.

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