Chapman CRE Webcast

What does the current capital markets environment mean for commercial real estate investors, lenders, and operators? In this episode, a panel of leading CRE capital markets experts discuss deal flow, financing trends, and where the market is headed.

Recorded live at Chapman University's annual MSRE Think Tank, this conversation offers a front-row seat to the insights shaping investment decisions today.

If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to mark your calendar for our annual Chapman University MSRE Think Tank on September 9, 2027.

For the final episode of the season, we turn the microphone toward the people at the heart of the program. Current MSRE students Clayton Lobel, Isabella Gonzales Webster, Shaun Weichmann, and Austin Menden share what drew them to Chapman Universities MSRE program, how the program has shaped their careers, and made an impact along the way.

Anyone weighing a graduate degree in real estate will find this episode invaluable: an unfiltered conversation with the students living it right now. Catch all four students on stage this September, where they'll continue the conversation in a live panel at Navigating the Future: Chapman's annual Real Estate Think Tank.

Thanks for listening this season. For more on the MSRE program, visit the Hayden School of Real Estate.

Jim Dusserre, Assistant Dean of Placement & Career Services at Chapman University, joins host Steven Ames to unpack the new economy of getting hired. One built on relationships, not resumes. Jim explains why referrals now drive most hiring decisions, how to build a personal brand that stands out when AI makes every resume look perfect, and why emotional intelligence still beats technical skill when it comes to being promoted. The conversation also covers Southern California's unique CRE opportunity in the industry rather than shrink it. Plus, his rapid-fire take on underrated career paths and best advise for young professionals just getting started.

Join us as James Breeze, Head of Industrial Research, Americas CBRE, shares insights into the dynamic US industrial and logistics market, covering recent trends, supply chain impacts, and future outlooks. Tune in to hear the research on the current dynamic shaping industrial real estate today.

What does it take to move from closing deals to building them? Real estate developer Jason Krotts traces his path from brokerage to ground-up development, sharing how he built a thriving industrial portfolio in Ontario, California, and why local relationships remain his most valuable asset.

Jason breaks down the market dynamics driving industrial demand, the realities of development risk, and how he evaluates future opportunities, offering practical lessons for anyone looking to build a lasting career in real estate.

Malcolm Johnson, founder and CEO of Langdon Park Capital, shares an unconventional path from Northeast D.C. to Notre Dame, the NFL, and Wall Street — and why he ultimately bet his career on workforce and affordable housing. In conversation with Steven Ames, Malcolm breaks down what "cultural competency" really means in property management, how he navigated the Great Financial Crisis at Bank of America, and why the housing shortage is an economic crisis hiding in plain sight. Plus his playbook for young professionals on discipline, authenticity, and why emotional intelligence still beats AI.

Willie Walker, CEO of Walker & Dunlop, breaks down why real estate values have dropped yet distress hasn't exploded — and where the real opportunities are hiding. From private credit dynamics and cap rate compression to the cultural playbook behind 800% company growth, Willy delivers a masterclass in navigating uncertainty.

Chapman University's real estate program is doing something different — prioritizing emotional intelligence, mentorship, and human connection alongside market expertise. Perry and Alex share how an intimate cohort model, experiential learning in Orange County, and access to industry leaders from Cornell, NYU, and Wharton are producing not just skilled professionals but empathetic leaders. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and shifting cycles, this is the case for why the most valuable skill in real estate is still being human.