Scaling Capital: Commercial Real Estate Intellegence

Accrete Advisors
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Scaling Capital, brought to you by Accrete Advisors, brings together owners, operators, developers, institutional partners, and professionals that play key roles in creating, capitalizing, and managing commercial real estate (CRE). Each episode dives into the forces shaping the CRE world — from market cycles and investment trends to the economic and geopolitical shifts that move the needle. Tune in for sharp insights, candid conversations, and real-world lessons from industry leaders who are defining what’s next in commercial real estate. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just CRE-curious, Scaling Capital connects the dots between strategy, opportunity, and innovation.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Yi Shan Huang on the $7 Trillion AI Expansion: Real Estate, Power, and Global Implications, Part 1

    What happens when AI demand collides with real estate, energy, and global power dynamics? Welcome back to Scaling Capital: Commercial Real Estate Intelligence, presented by Accrete Advisors. This week, host Jennifer Robertson sits down with Yi-Shan Huang, Managing Director at BentallGreenOak, bringing over 25 years of institutional real estate investing experience — including deep expertise across China and global markets. Together, they unpack how the rapid rise of AI is reshaping commercial real estate — from the explosion of data center investment to the infrastructure required to support the next generation of intelligent systems. In this episode, we cover: The projected $7 trillion investment in data centers by 2030 The rise of “AI factories” purpose-built for advanced compute workloads Why artificial general intelligence (AGI) is driving unprecedented demand for power and capital Key U.S. bottlenecks, including energy constraints and policy challenges The evolving U.S. vs. China AI race — from research leadership to real-world adoption Guest bio: Yi-Shan Huang is Managing Director for BGO based in New York. She is on the asset management team, where she manages a portfolio of assets across the US and leads special projects initiatives across the platform. Yi-Shan has over 25 years of experience in the origination, underwriting, acquisition, and asset management of private equity real estate investments in the US and Asia. She has complete deal lifecycle experience across all real estate asset classes, and substantial investment experience investing across the risk curve, in both open and closed-end structures, as well as cross-border investments. Connect with Yi-Shan Huang Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Meet Yi-Shan Huang 01:33 Why Data Centers Are Booming in China 02:25 AI Factories and Bottlenecks Explained 08:51 US vs China Key Players 11:42 Origins of Modern AI 14:37 China Applied AI Surge 19:33 China’s Convenience Economy Follow Jennifer and Accrete Advisors on LinkedIn, visit our website, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of CRE. Join us next week for Part Two with Yi-Shan, where we dive deeper into China’s central government and their involvement in AI.

    Yi Shan Huang on the $7 Trillion AI Expansion: Real Estate, Power, and Global Implications, Part 1

  2. Jul 6

    Gareth Mee on How Global Investors Use Partnerships to Scale, Part 2

    As private markets continue to scale, institutional investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional acquisitions and organic growth. Strategic partnerships have emerged as a powerful way to access new markets, expand investment capabilities, and deploy capital at scale. Welcome back to Scaling Capital: Commercial Real Estate Intelligence, presented by Accrete Advisors. In Part Two, host Jennifer Robertson continues her conversation with Gareth Mee, Chief Executive Officer of Legal & General's Institutional Retirement Business, to explore how Legal & General is leveraging partnerships with firms like Manulife and Blackstone to accelerate growth across asset management, retirement solutions, and private markets. Together, they discuss what makes a successful institutional partnership, how Legal & General approaches affordable housing and long-term investing, and the investment themes the firm believes will shape the future of global capital allocation. In this episode, we cover: Legal & General's partnership with Manulife and plans to expand across asset management, insurance, and global markets The firm's strategic partnership with Blackstone and its implications for private credit, infrastructure, and real estate investing How L&G is approaching affordable housing in the UK and creating scalable investment models for long-term impact What makes a successful institutional partnership and why cultural alignment matters Long-term investment themes including data centers, power infrastructure, renewable energy, housing, senior living, and CPACE financing How a 190-year investment horizon influences L&G's capital allocation strategy Guest Bio: Gareth Mee is the Chief Executive Officer of Legal & General's Institutional Retirement Business, which insures pension schemes and pensioners across the UK, U.S., and Canada. Prior to becoming CEO, Gareth served as CFO of Legal & General Capital, CIO of Private Markets and Asset Management, and CIO of Institutional Retirement, overseeing a portfolio of approximately £94 billion. Before joining Legal & General, Gareth spent nearly 20 years at EY, where he was a Partner leading global investment advisory, UK actuarial, and sustainable finance consulting practices. He holds a First-Class Honors degree in Mathematics from University College London and is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Connect with Gareth on LinkedIn Follow Jennifer and Accrete Advisors on LinkedIn, visit our website, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of CRE. Episode Breakdown 00:00 Welcome Back and Partnership Strategy Overview 00:31 The Manulife Partnership 03:56 Inside L&G's Blackstone Partnership 07:27 Affordable Housing and Impact Investing 10:07 What Makes a Great Institutional Partner 12:08 Future Investment Themes 15:09 Long-Term Capital Allocation and Closing Thoughts

    Gareth Mee on How Global Investors Use Partnerships to Scale, Part 2

  3. Jun 29

    Gareth Mee’s Insight into Legal & General’s Strategic Vision for Global Expansion, Part 1

    How is one of the world's largest insurance and asset management firms positioning itself for growth across private markets, retirement solutions, and global partnerships? Welcome back to Scaling Capital: Commercial Real Estate Intelligence, presented by Accrete Advisors. This week, host Jennifer Robertson sits down with Gareth Mee, Chief Executive Officer of Legal & General's Institutional Retirement Business, to discuss the company's strategic evolution, global expansion efforts, and long-term vision for growth. With nearly 200 years of history, Legal & General has grown into a leading insurance, retirement, and asset management platform with over £1.2 trillion in assets under management. Gareth shares his journey from EY Partner to CEO, provides insight into Legal & General's transformation under CEO Antonio Simões, and discusses how the firm is leveraging private markets, pension risk transfer, and strategic partnerships to drive future growth. In this episode, we cover: Legal & General's history, scale, and business structure across asset management, retirement, and insurance Gareth's career journey from EY Partner to CEO of Institutional Retirement Antonio Simões' strategic vision and focus on capital allocation discipline Legal & General's growth plans across private markets and asset management Expansion in the U.S. through strategic partnerships and pension risk transfer The Meiji Yasuda partnership and plans to grow U.S. retirement solutions Why scale, collaboration, and long-term partnerships are central to L&G's strategy If you're interested in how global insurance companies, retirement platforms, and institutional investors are positioning themselves for long-term growth, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Guest Bio: Gareth Mee is the Chief Executive Officer of Legal & General's Institutional Retirement Business, which insures pension schemes and pensioners across the UK, U.S., and Canada. Prior to becoming CEO, Gareth served as CFO of Legal & General Capital, CIO of Private Markets and Asset Management, and CIO of Institutional Retirement, overseeing a portfolio of approximately £94 billion. Before joining Legal & General, Gareth spent nearly 20 years at EY, where he was a Partner leading global investment advisory, UK actuarial, and sustainable finance consulting practices. He holds a First-Class Honors degree in Mathematics from University College London and is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Connect with Gareth on LinkedIn Follow Jennifer and Accrete Advisors on LinkedIn, visit our website, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of CRE. Join us next week for Part Two with Gareth, where we dive deeper into Legal & General's pension risk transfer platform, investment strategy, and global retirement market opportunities.

    Gareth Mee’s Insight into Legal & General’s Strategic Vision for Global Expansion, Part 1

  4. Feb 7

    Katarina Hapsari (Episode 2/2): PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk), Engineering and Capitalizing a multi-billion-dollar, Future-Ready Urban Project near Jakarta, Indonesia

    In Part 2 of this two-part episode of Scaling Capital, Jennifer continues her conversation with Katarina Hapsari, Founder & Managing Partner of Aurem International Assets. Katerina shares what it takes to deliver a city-scale development on coastal land, integrating urban planning, climate resilience, and smart infrastructure to sustain growth through 2100. The conversation breaks down the disciplines required to execute a project of this magnitude, from flood protection and utilities to engineering and environmental safeguards. They also unpack the $20B+ capital structure behind PIK, including self-funding, public-private partnerships, and private equity. PIK serves as a powerful case study for building resilient, future-ready cities in emerging markets. Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

    Katarina Hapsari (Episode 2/2): PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk), Engineering and Capitalizing a multi-billion-dollar, Future-Ready Urban Project near Jakarta, Indonesia

  5. Feb 1

    Katarina Hapsari (Episode 1/2): PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk), Developing a Multi-Billion-Dollar National Strategic Project in Indonesia

    In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Scaling Capital, Jennifer Robertson speaks with Katarina Hapsari, Founder and Managing Partner of Aureum International Assets. She discusses leading the development of one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious mixed-use projects, PIK, a massive, world-class, multi-billion-dollar, waterfront city development near Jakarta, designated as a National Strategic Project. Katarina shares insights about managing and coordinating the development of a 6,000-hectare (14,000-acre), multi-billion-dollar community, designed as a true live-work-play environment. Together, they explore public-private partnerships, large-scale urban planning, integrated infrastructure, and the resulting social and economic benefits. A compelling conversation on leadership, placemaking, and executing real estate at the city scale. *Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

    Katarina Hapsari (Episode 1/2): PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk), Developing a Multi-Billion-Dollar National Strategic Project in Indonesia

  6. Jan 10

    Laura Rapaport (Episode 2/2): Rethinking C-PACE and Smarter Capital Stacks

    In this episode of Scaling Capital, host Jennifer Robertson sits down with Laura Rapaport, CEO & Founder of North Bridge, to unpack how C-PACE is being used today to lower the cost of capital and bring greater flexibility to complex real estate deals. They explore how early integration, thoughtful structuring, and a deep understanding of how buildings are built can improve outcomes for developers, owner-operators, and lenders. From value-add projects to ground-up development, this conversation offers practical insight into how C-PACE can help projects move forward in a challenging market. Learn more about North Bridge: https://www.northbridgeops.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/northbridgeesg/ *Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

    Laura Rapaport (Episode 2/2): Rethinking C-PACE and Smarter Capital Stacks

  7. Jan 5

    Laura Rapaport (Episode 1/2) on CPACE: A Smarter Way to Build the Capital Stack

    In this episode, Jennifer Robertson sits down with Laura Rapaport, Founder & CEO of North Bridge, to demystify CPACE and its evolving role in today’s real estate capital stack. Laura explains what CPACE is, how it works, and why it should be viewed as an integral part of a commercial property capitalization — not just green financing. They explore how CPACE can be used across asset classes for new construction, value-add renovations, acquisitions, refinancings, and bridge capital. The conversation covers lookback financing, delayed draws, and how CPACE can lower the cost of capital, reduce recourse, and improve project viability. Learn more about North Bridge: https://www.northbridgeops.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/northbridgeesg/ *Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

    Laura Rapaport (Episode 1/2) on CPACE: A Smarter Way to Build the Capital Stack

  8. 12/05/2025

    Economist Richard Barkham (Episode 2/2) - Unpacks the Dynamics Shaping Today’s Commercial Real Estate Sectors

    In this episode, Jennifer Robertson sits down with renowned economist Richard Barkham, former Global Chief Economist at CBRE. Richard explains how office vacancies are beginning to stabilize and why a new office cycle may be emerging. They explore the industrial sector’s shift toward consolidation, the impact of tariffs, and the ongoing “flight to quality”. The conversation moves to retail—now one of the healthiest CRE sectors due to limited new supply. Richard also discusses multifamily’s strong absorption and future construction trends, as well as how slowing immigration and millions of retiring boomers could reshape labor markets, growth, and housing demand. Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

    Economist Richard Barkham (Episode 2/2) - Unpacks the Dynamics Shaping Today’s Commercial Real Estate Sectors

  9. 11/11/2025

    From Tariffs to Tech: Richard Barkham on What’s Ahead for the U.S. and Global Economy

    In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Richard Barkham, former Global Chief Economist at CBRE, for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the global and U.S. economies heading into 2026. Fresh off the ANREV Conference in Singapore, Richard shares insights on investor sentiment across Asia and how regional trends connect to global capital flows. The conversation dives deep into the U.S. outlook—covering the surprising resilience of 2025, the ripple effects of tariffs, the role of AI-driven growth, and the potential risks tied to fiscal policy and market corrections. From manufacturing shifts and consumer strength to Fed strategy and long-term interest rate expectations, this episode offers a grounded yet forward-looking view of what may shape real estate and the broader economy in the year ahead. Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

    From Tariffs to Tech: Richard Barkham on What’s Ahead for the U.S. and Global Economy
  • 9 Episodes

About

Scaling Capital, brought to you by Accrete Advisors, brings together owners, operators, developers, institutional partners, and professionals that play key roles in creating, capitalizing, and managing commercial real estate (CRE). Each episode dives into the forces shaping the CRE world — from market cycles and investment trends to the economic and geopolitical shifts that move the needle. Tune in for sharp insights, candid conversations, and real-world lessons from industry leaders who are defining what’s next in commercial real estate. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just CRE-curious, Scaling Capital connects the dots between strategy, opportunity, and innovation.

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