Blueprints and Breakthroughs

Harvard Real Estate Review
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Harvard Real Estate Review is a student-run publication investigating the intersection of real estate, technology, and design. Our approach is multi-disciplinary, connecting students and academics with industry leaders to foster collaborative conversations about the future of real estate.

Episodes

  1. 01/31/2025

    Ep. 6 Corporate Venture Capital | JLL Spark

    Join us for an insightful conversation with Raj Singh, Managing Partner at JLL Spark, the corporate venture capital arm of JLL. With over 20 years of experience in venture capital, technology, and strategic leadership, Raj shares his career journey and his mission to drive innovation in the real estate industry through PropTech investments. We explore why real estate has lagged in tech adoption and whether this creates unique opportunities or challenges for startups. Raj delves into how JLL Spark is carving its niche in the VC ecosystem by leveraging its integration with the broader JLL platform to support deal sourcing and portfolio companies. Raj shares his insights on the most exciting PropTech trends over the next decade, including the global evolution of technology investment across markets like MENA and APAC. Tune in to hear Raj Singh’s expert insights on the future of technology in real estate and how to make a meaningful impact in this dynamic space.

    40 min

  2. 08/20/2024

    Ep. 5 Construction Technology | Suffolk Technologies

    Join us for an engaging conversation with Wan-Li Zhu, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Suffolk Technologies, as he shares insights from his extensive background in venture capital and his motivation for launching Suffolk Tech. Suffolk Technologies, the venture capital affiliate of Suffolk Construction, is at the forefront of driving innovation in the construction industry. In this episode, Wan-Li discusses why the construction sector has been slow to adopt technology and how Suffolk Technologies plays a pivotal role in changing this dynamic. He explains how Suffolk Tech differentiates itself in the VC ecosystem, leveraging its unique position to raise capital, source deals, and work closely with portfolio companies. We also dive into some of Suffolk Tech's recent investments, exploring the trends and themes that Wan-Li finds most exciting, including where technology and investment trends are heading over the next 5-10 years across established and emerging markets. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Wan-Li Zhu on the future of technology in construction and the global opportunities that lie ahead.

    44 min

  3. 08/05/2024

    Ep. 4 Impact Investing | Amazon Housing Equity Fund

    Join us for an insightful conversation with Catherine Buell, a distinguished Loeb Fellow at Harvard University, known for her impactful work in urban planning and development. Catherine shares details about her role at Amazon, where she has played a pivotal role in developing the Housing Equity Fund. Amazon's Housing Equity Fund deployed significant funding for community development and affordable housing initiatives. In this episode, we’ll explore Catherine’s background and her journey to Amazon. She provides insights on the fund structure and funding deployment criteria, including a focus on BIPOC developer participation. Catherine will explain why this model was successful during COVID and how it could be altered today to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis. Tune in for Catherine’s expert insights and practical guidance on leading the future of inclusive and sustainable urban development.

    33 min

  4. 07/16/2024

    Ep. 3 International Affordable Housing | Nightingale Housing

    Join us for a compelling conversation with Dan McKenna, an esteemed architect and educator, as we explore his work with Nightingale Housing. Nightingale is addressing critical issues in housing affordability and sustainability in Australia, striving to create socially, financially, and environmentally sustainable urban communities. In this episode, Dan will provide insights into Nightingale's unique business model, organizational structure, and the supporting technologies that drive their success. We’ll also discuss the potential for replicating this innovative housing model in other geographies. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Dan’s experience and vision for the future of sustainable housing.

    32 min

  5. 06/28/2024

    Ep. 2 Climate & Sustainability | Galvanize Real Estate

    Join us for an engaging discussion with Joe Sumberg and Nicolette Jaze from Galvanize Climate Solutions. Joe is Managing Partner and Head of Real Estate and Nicolette is the Head of ESG & Sustainability for the Real Estate strategy.  In this episode, we'll explore: Their climate-oriented investment thesis Their mission to decarbonize buildings through innovative technologyGalvanize's unique value creation strategy, governance practices, and the distinctive elements that set them apart in the marketValuable advice for early to mid-career professionals on how to approach sustainability in real estate and create opportunities for impact through their workAnd much more!  Tune in for expert insights and practical guidance on leading the future of climate-conscious real estate.

    34 min

  6. 06/17/2024

    Ep. 1 Real Estate Tech & VC | MetaProp

    Join us for an insightful conversation with Zach Aarons, Co-Founder & General Partner at MetaProp, the world’s leading venture capital firm focused on the PropTech industry. With over a decade of experience, Zach is one of the most active early-stage PropTech investor in the U.S. His diverse background spans real estate development, commercial asset management, property marketing, and commercial leasing. In this episode, we'll explore: Zach's journey to founding MetaPropHow MetaProp differentiates itself in the investment landscapeKey insights into real estate trends and opportunities over the next 5-10 years in developing and emerging marketsAnd much more! Don't miss Zach's expert insights and practical advice for making an impact in real estate technology.

    48 min

  7. 06/07/2024

    Ep. 0 Introducing Blueprints and Breakthroughs

    Welcome to Season 2 of Harvard Real Estate Review's podcast series titled "Blueprints and Breakthroughs," where we interview innovators and industry experts to discuss the future of real estate by covering themes and ideas that sit at the intersection of real estate, design and technology - themes that will govern and revolutionize the industry over the next few decades.  Co-hosts: Samika Jain (Harvard GSD MRE) and William Sutter (Harvard GSD MRE)

    1 min

  8. 02/06/2021

    Episode 2: Planning for Workplace Changes in COVID Reality

    As COVID vaccines rolls out in countries around the world, we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, looking forward to having the pandemic behind us in the near future. While remote work is still the norm for now, many are yearning for a return to normalcy with in-person collaborations and interactions at offices.   With the lessons we’ve learned from COVID about the importance of healthy indoor spaces, we begin to envision what the post-COVID offices will look like, as well as how we can use technology, methodology, and strategy to make workplaces healthier, more productive, and more comfortable.  The following questions emerge: Who will return to offices first? At what point? Who will remain remote? What should entrepreneurs and investors know about opportunities in workplace real estate as some companies consider returning to back to physical offices? How can Fortune 500 CEOs plan for potential office return in 2021 while improving productivity and bottom-line?  This episode features a cross-disciplinary conversation between the following industry experts:  ·      Zach Aarons (Co-Founder/Partner @ MetaProp.vc) ·      David Gerster (VP/Investor @ JLL Spark Venture Fund) ·      John Macomber (Senior Lecturer @ Harvard Business School) ·      Dan Ryan (CEO/Co-Founder @ VergeSense) The conversation was moderated by Iryna Papalamava (MBA’18), previously a Director and Principal at Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures (BCGDV), and currently a Chief Operating Officer at Guardian Direct. This podcast series emerged out of her article entitled “Picking Winners and Losers in PropTech,” a comprehensive guide for investing in real estate tech published in HRER Issue #8.  The HRER podcast series is produced by Dixi Wu (MArch / MDes REBE ’22) and George Zhang (MArch ’21), Editors Emeriti of the Harvard Real Estate Review and Executive Editors of HRER #8.

    49 min
  9. Episode 1: Real Estate Tech 3.0 - Opportunities and Disruptions in COVID reality

    11/18/2020

    Episode 1: Real Estate Tech 3.0 - Opportunities and Disruptions in COVID reality

    PropTech has been the buzzword in the real estate industry for the past few years. People are looking for ways to disrupt this traditional industry whether through revolutionizing ways of living, changing mode of operation, or coming up with new models of investments. Post the 2008 financial crisis, disruptions now known as Housing and Homebuilding 2.0 - such as prefabrication, 3D printing, and smart home - came to the forefront of the industry. As people always say, with crises and challenges comes opportunities. Since the COVID pandemic, willingly or unwillingly, our social norm and way of living is changing faster than ever. In this episode, we will take a closer look at the macroscopic housing and real estate trends and how investors and businesses adapt to these changes.  This episode features a cross-disciplinary conversation between the following panelists and experts: ·        Chris Herbert (Managing Director at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies) ·        David Gerster (VP and Investor at JLL Spark Venture Fund) ·        Nicholas Donahue, (CEO and Founder at Atmos) The conversation was moderated by Iryna Papalamava (MBA’18), previously a Director and Principal at Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures (BCGDV), and currently a Chief Operating Officer at Guardian Direct. This podcast series emerged out of her article entitled “Picking Winners and Losers in PropTech,” a comprehensive guide for investing in real estate tech published in HRER Issue #8.  The HRER podcast series is produced by Dixi Wu (MArch / MDes REBE ’22) and George Zhang (MArch ’21), Editors Emeriti of the Harvard Real Estate Review and Executive Editors of HRER #8.

    58 min
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

Harvard Real Estate Review is a student-run publication investigating the intersection of real estate, technology, and design. Our approach is multi-disciplinary, connecting students and academics with industry leaders to foster collaborative conversations about the future of real estate.

Information

  • Creator
    Harvard Real Estate Review
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Harvard Real Estate Review
  • Show Website
    Blueprints and Breakthroughs