Leading Voices in Real Estate

Matt Slepin
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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.

  1. 7H AGO

    Roy March | Eastdil Secured Part 2

    In Part II of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin continues his conversation with Roy March, CEO of Eastdil Secured, exploring what has made the firm a true powerhouse in the commercial real estate investment business. This episode moves beyond history to focus on the cultural DNA, client-first philosophy, and strategic discipline that have defined Eastdil’s success. Roy shares candid insights on leadership, the importance of language, and why he sees himself not as a broker but as an investment banker. His perspective highlights how mindset shapes positioning, credibility, and long-term impact. A central theme is the transformative merger between Eastdil and Secured Capital, and how the partnership between Roy March and Mike Van Konynenburg created a powerful synergy that elevated the firm to new heights. The conversation also places Eastdil within the broader competitive landscape, comparing its culture and focus with industry leaders such as CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, and Newmark, as well as investment-focused firms including Walker & Dunlop, Berkadia, and Marcus & Millichap. The episode also touches on succession, industry evolution, and what may lie ahead as markets recover into the next cycle. For listeners interested in leadership, advisory businesses, and the evolving role of investment bankers in real estate, this conversation offers thoughtful perspective and practical insight.

    1h 8m

  2. FEB 3

    Roy March | Eastdil Secured Part 1

    In Part I of this two-part conversation, Leading Voices in Real Estate host Matt Slepin sits down with legendary Eastdil Secured CEO Roy March, joined by ZRG colleague Alan Walker, for a wide-ranging discussion on the evolution and institutionalization of the real estate industry. Recorded in Santa Monica, the episode traces Eastdil’s origin story and the broader transformation of real estate from the early 1980s through the Global Financial Crisis, offering essential context for understanding today’s global capital markets. March shares granular, firsthand stories from landmark transactions, including the sale of Equity Office Properties from Sam Zell to Blackstone, providing rare oral history from someone who was truly “in the room where it happened.” The conversation also explores what distinguishes great, value-add advisors, highlighting the role of wisdom, judgment, and storytelling in transactional businesses. Part II will dive deeper into Eastdil’s platform and what has made it one of the most dominant players in the global transactions marketplace.

    58 min

  3. JAN 20

    Sonny Kalsi | BGO

    In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin sits down with Sonny Kalsi, CEO of BGO, a global real estate investment manager with over $90 billion in assets under management. Continuing the show’s multi-episode theme of thinking broadly, both globally and long term, this conversation explores how commercial real estate has evolved and what the next decade might look like in an increasingly unpredictable world. Following recent and upcoming conversations with Tim Bodner of PwC and Roy March of Eastdil Secured, Sonny offers a distinct perspective shaped by experience across market cycles and geographies. He shares the remarkable story of leaving Morgan Stanley in the depths of the Global Financial Crisis, founding GreenOak in 2010, and through growth and strategic M&A, helping build what is now BGO, a leading global real estate platform. Beyond markets and investment trends, Matt and Sonny dive into a core Leading Voices theme, the value of the business platform itself. Sonny speaks candidly about people, culture, and the less tangible elements that drive long term enterprise value, factors that matter just as much as AUM in building a durable and resilient organization. This wide ranging conversation covers global capital flows, long term investment thinking, leadership through uncertainty, and the cultural foundations behind building a world class real estate firm. As always, it is a thoughtful and forward looking discussion for anyone seeking to better understand where the real estate business has been and where it may be headed. Another great Leading Voices conversation.

    1h 15m

  4. JAN 7

    Tim Bodner | PwC

    Leading Voices in Real Estate kicks off 2026 and Season 9 with a wide-lens conversation on global real estate trends and long-term market shifts. Host Matt Slepin is joined by Tim Bodner, Global Real Estate Deals Leader at PwC and a key voice behind PwC and ULI’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate report, now in its 47th year. Rather than focusing on short-term topics, this episode explores the fundamental forces shaping real estate globally. Tim shares insights on investor drivers, return expectations, investment structures, time horizons, and how capital is being allocated across U.S. and international markets, including traditional asset classes, infrastructure, and specialty sectors. This episode sets the tone for a broader 2026 series examining global capital flows, investment strategy, and long-term transformation across the real estate landscape.

    1h 24m

  5. 12/16/2025

    Matt Slepin | Planet Wealth

    In the final episode of 2025, the microphone is flipped as Matt Sleppin appears as a guest on Lance Woods’ Fortunes of the Brave podcast. Recorded on October 16, the conversation, titled From Cowboys to Platforms, explores the evolution of the real estate industry from founder driven “Cowboy” businesses to resilient, institutional platforms. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience, Matt shares insights on leadership, building enduring business platforms, and what creates meaningful and successful careers in real estate. This episode captures the core themes behind Leading Voices in Real Estate and ZRG’s work helping companies transition from founder led organizations to sustainable platforms built for long term success.

    43 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    Don Wood | Federal Realty Investment Trust

    This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features an in-depth conversation with Don Wood, CEO and President of Federal Realty Investment Trust, one of the oldest companies in the REIT industry and the only one to raise its dividend for 58 consecutive years. Don and host Matt Slepin discuss how the REIT investor base has evolved during his tenure, the growing contrast between public REITs and private equity, and how leading REITs use joint ventures to diversify their capital. The episode covers Federal’s 27 million square foot retail and mixed use portfolio in high income, high barrier markets and looks at the company’s value through both NAV and cash flow perspectives. They explore the unique aspects of retail real estate, including tenant strategy, placemaking, and creating destinations where people want to shop and gather. The conversation also highlights the importance of pairing a strong operating platform with a top tier portfolio. Matt reflects on the broader retail environment during Black Friday, encourages listeners to think about their impact and leadership at this time of year, and shares plans for the podcast’s expanded global focus in 2026.

    1h 23m

  7. 11/18/2025

    Jeremy Bronfman | Lincoln Avenue Communities

    In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, host Matt Slepin speaks with Jeremy Bromfman, CEO and founder of Lincoln Avenue Communities, one of the nation’s top affordable housing owners and developers. Founded in 2016, the company has quickly grown into a leading force addressing housing affordability across the country. The discussion focuses on how Jeremy thoughtfully built the organization from the ground up and his perspective on leadership in the affordable housing space. Matt begins by reflecting on how housing has evolved from a “back page” issue to a national conversation. For most of his career, public discussion centered on government-funded low-income programs such as HUD initiatives and the long-standing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, which remains a cornerstone of affordable housing finance. While current debates often focus on rent control, housing supply, and homelessness, Matt notes that these “alphabet soup” government programs continue to function effectively, even if they receive less public attention. Matt highlights two main takeaways from the conversation with Jeremy. First, Jeremy’s intentional approach and leadership have made Lincoln Avenue Communities a major player in less than a decade. Second, while many guests have built businesses from modest beginnings, Jeremy’s story stands out for how he has used his privileged background to chart his own course and make a difference through his company’s mission. Matt is joined by his colleague Sarah Dunn, who leads ZRG’s affordable housing search practice. As he moves toward semi-retirement, he reflects on mentoring colleagues like Sarah and invites listeners to explore more affordable housing episodes and connect with ZRG for talent and advisory needs.

    1h 4m

  8. 11/04/2025

    Jeffrey Hoopes | Suffolk Construction

    In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with Jeffrey Hoopes, President of the West Region for Suffolk Construction to explore how the general contracting business is evolving and what it means to lead, build, and eventually pass the baton in a rapidly changing industry. This episode marks a first: a deep dive with a senior executive from the general contracting world. Jeff shares hard-earned perspective from decades in the field, reflecting on the pace of technological adoption in construction and why meaningful change requires both context and skepticism, not just excitement for the latest shiny tool. He explains how the sector is modernizing while staying grounded in fundamentals: safety, craftsmanship, relationships, and the patient discipline required to build complex, lasting structures. The conversation also turns deeply personal and surprisingly candid as Matt and Jeff discuss leadership transitions, retirement vs. semi-retirement, and the emotional and strategic challenges leaders face when letting go. Jeffrey offers a thoughtful look at reinvention and purpose beyond the CEO chair. Matt shares his own experience approaching “semi-retirement,” and the two explore how leaders can prepare themselves and their organizations for succession with grace, clarity, and long-term vision. Whether you're in real estate, construction, or leadership at any stage of your career, this episode offers wisdom, laughter, and grounded insights from two industry veterans. Tune in to hear how the business of building—both structures and careers—is changing, and what it means to lead well across a lifetime.

    1h 5m
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Slepin
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    215
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Leading Voices in Real Estate
  • Show Website
    Leading Voices in Real Estate

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