Leaders in Real Estate Podcast

Daniel Lebensohn co-founded South Florida investment and development firm BH3 in November 2009 — right in the teeth of the financial crisis — with his partner Greg Freedman and, in his words, "no material track record" and no capital locked down. A lawyer by training (JD, New York Law School), Daniel spent a decade in practice before moving fully into distressed real estate, and has since helped scale BH3 into a national player with billions invested across Florida and New York, from the Privé at Island Estates towers in Aventura to a new Privé project at Point Dume, Malibu.

In this episode, Daniel unpacks the trait one peer called his superpower — tenacity — and where it really comes from. We get the full story of how he tracked down an investor from Michael Dell's family office, bought a stranger's seat on a JetBlue flight to sit beside him, and turned a delayed tarmac into five hours of captive pitch time. We also cover the multi-year, multi-million-dollar Williams Island litigation, what adversity reveals about your partners, and why he believes AI is about to pour rocket fuel on the people who stay authentic.

If you're a rising professional looking down the barrel of your first leadership role, this one's for you. He closes with the clearest case for taking the leap you'll hear all year: "This is not a dress rehearsal."

What if the leadership style that got you promoted is exactly what's holding your team back?

In this episode, Nick Carman sits down with Mark Levy, Chief Investment Officer of FRP Holdings and former founder and president of Altman Logistics. Mark oversees capital deployment across FRP's industrial development platform along the US eastern seaboard — but this conversation isn't about deals. It's about the harder, slower work of becoming a leader worth following. Mark is refreshingly honest about his early career: driven by validation, outworking everyone in the room, and — by his own admission — leading with a command-and-control style that left his teams disempowered and results falling short. He shares the turning point: a career coach who introduced him to emotional intelligence, and the "light bulb moment" that reshaped how he leads, hires and mentors today. Whether you're a rising star eyeing your first leadership role or an experienced professional questioning your approach, this is a mentor-in-your-pocket episode you'll come back to.

In this episode:

Why holding a leadership title isn't the same as leading (2:19)

The early drivers: validation, work ethic and "failure is not an option" (8:51)

How Mark's teams really saw him — and the feedback that stung (12:38)

The career coach conversation that changed everything: emotional intelligence and servant leadership (6:32)

"Listen more, talk less" — the advice Mark wishes he'd had (17:11)

Why "gut feel" is a myth: instincts are built on preparation (20:17)

What drives Mark today: coaching, mentoring and success through others (26:42)

The advice he gives University of Miami and UPenn students: know your value proposition (28:42)

Why showing up still matters — Mark's candid take on remote work for young professionals (32:18)

What he looks for when hiring: intellectual curiosity over hard skills (35:54)

Building your own "personal board of directors" (44:28)

The long game: be the best at the role you have today (45:19)

About the guest: Mark Levy is Chief Investment Officer at FRP Holdings, an industrial development and acquisitions platform focused on markets along the US eastern seaboard, with primary markets in New Jersey and Florida. He joined FRP following its acquisition of Altman Logistics, where he was founder and president. Earlier in his career he held senior leadership roles at Prologis, the world's largest industrial REIT.

Welcome to Leaders in Real Estate! I’m Nick Carman, and in this episode, I sit down with Megan Creecy-Herman, President of Prologis’ U.S. West Region. Megan oversees a staggering $55 billion in assets, 260 million square feet of industrial real estate, and leads a team of 220 professionals.

We dive deep into leadership lessons, career growth, and how to thrive in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous). Megan shares her journey from influencing without authority to leading one of the largest portfolios in the industry.

If you’re a future leader in real estate this conversation is packed with actionable insights on building trust, giving feedback, and staying resilient under pressure.

Highlights

How Megan discovered leadership early in her career

Leading without authority and building trust

Why listening beats talking for effective leadership

The traits Megan looks for in future leaders

Mistakes that taught her the most

How to stay calm in high-pressure environments

Recommended resources for leadership growth

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro

01:00 – Megan’s role at Prologis and scope of responsibility

03:00 – First experiences with leadership & influencing without authority

07:00 – Listening vs. talking: A leadership superpower

09:00 – Lessons from challenging bosses & evolving leadership styles

11:00 – How Megan reignites passion in her team

14:00 – Creating a culture of personal development

15:00 – Leading in a VUCA world

18:00 – Handling resistance to growth and feedback

19:00 – Biggest mistakes and lessons learned

21:00 – Traits Megan looks for in future leaders

23:00 – Steepest learning curve in her career

26:00 – Megan’s top leadership resources & book recommendations

27:00 – Current challenges as a senior leader

29:00 – Staying calm under pressure: Resilience strategies

31:00 – Traits Megan had to let go as she climbed the ladder

33:00 – Looking ahead: Personal and corporate goals

35:00 – Market outlook and Prologis’ next phase

36:00 – Closing thoughts

In this episode, I sit down with Todd Carter, Managing Director - Southeast for EQT Real Estate, who oversees acquisitions, development, and leasing across the Southeast. Todd has more than twenty five years in the industrial sector and has been involved in over one hundred million square feet of transactions. I wanted to understand how that volume of experience shaped his leadership approach, and Todd delivered with complete honesty, humour, and depth.

We talk about early career discipline, tough mentors, stress, mistakes, and the unexpected moments that shaped him. Todd explains why he still loves being in the deal flow today and shares the traits he looks for in the next generation of leaders. This is a practical, candid mentoring session packed with lessons for anyone serious about building a real estate career.

Key Moments & Timestamps

00:00 I welcome listeners to the episode

I introduce the show and set the stage for a leadership focused conversation with Todd.

00:55 Todd’s role at EQT

Todd gives an overview of the Southeast region and the one hundred million square foot portfolio he’s responsible for.

02:00 When leadership first found him

Todd shares how he began leading long before he ever held a formal title.

03:45 Why waiting for a promotion is a mistake

We talk about seizing responsibility early and how that creates opportunity.

04:15 What drove Todd in the early days

Todd gives an honest answer: money. We unpack how that shaped his early work ethic.

05:00 Early leadership challenges

He explains the resistance he faced, especially around age and credibility.

06:40 How he overcame those barriers

Todd talks about results, consistency, and treating people with respect.

08:00 The mentors who shaped him

From Wall Street work ethic to industrial fundamentals, Todd’s early mentors left a big mark.

10:20 Learning to think through the deal

Todd explains why accountability and ownership sharpened his decision making.

12:45 What he chose not to adopt

We discuss the traits he saw in leaders above him that he refused to carry forward.

16:00 Mistakes that shaped him

Todd reframes mistakes as learning, not something to haunt you.

17:50 The capital call lesson

He tells the story of a painful early ownership experience that changed his perspective forever.

20:00 What colleagues say about him

I share insights from my research, including his reputation for a calm, lighthearted style.

21:45 How he manages stress today

Todd talks about humour, staying grounded, and avoiding premature panic.

24:00 The “Todd style”

We explore why composure and humility often outperform loud leadership.

25:30 Joining EQT with a big reputation

Todd describes the pressure of coming in as a major hire and how he handled it.

28:50 Leading by example

Why simply doing the work and producing results won people over.

30:00 What Todd looks for in future leaders

He explains why he focuses on how people treat others.

32:00 What drives him now

Still motivated by money, but now also by meaning, fun, and paying it forward.

33:30 Why he still works deals

Todd explains why staying close to the action keeps him sharp.

35:00 His advice for future leaders

This business isn’t complicated, but it is tough. Stay disciplined and pay it forward.

36:00 Wrapping up

I close the episode and reflect on the insights Todd shared.

In this episode, Nick sits down with Stephanie Lynch, CIO and CFO of Student Quarters. Stephanie leads the firm’s investment and capital raising strategy and has executed more than $4.5 billion in debt and equity across domestic and offshore markets.

Stephanie shares formative leadership moments, the lessons she carried forward and the ones she intentionally left behind, and how fear of failure shaped her resilience. She also opens up about a dramatic moment early in her time at Student Quarters when a corporate partner collapsed just four days into her tenure, forcing her to navigate a complete recapitalization.

This conversation explores what drives her to outperform expectations, how she approaches negotiation, and the attributes she looks for in future leaders. Stephanie also reflects on mistakes that shaped her communication style, the dangers of chasing short term wins, and the personal and professional milestones she’s excited about next.

We covered:

The leadership traits she adopted from mentors and the ones she chose not to carry forward

Her approach to negotiation and the tools she relies on in high pressure situations

What drives her to exceed expectations and outperform peers

Lessons from crisis moments and why communication is central to her leadership

How she evaluates rising leaders and the qualities she hires for

Resources and books she recommends for developing critical thinking and adaptability

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Stephanie Lynch

01:00 Stephanie’s role and responsibilities at Student Quarters

02:00 Early leadership experiences and being thrown in early

03:00 Feeling unprepared at first and learning to rise to the occasion

04:00 Fear of failure, persistence, and letting go of the need for yes

06:00 Mentorship influences and shaping her leadership style

07:00 Communicating hard things and navigating difficult conversations

09:00 Outworking and outsmarting peers and influences from her music background

11:30 The corporate crisis four days into her new role

13:30 Considering quitting and why she ultimately stayed

14:30 Drawing on financial crisis experience to stabilize Student Quarters

16:00 The recapitalization challenge and finding the right partner

18:00 Her negotiation approach creativity, communication, persistence

20:00 Mistakes that changed how she communicates risk and strategy

23:00 What she looks for in future leaders

24:00 Curiosity, communication, and embracing change

26:00 Negative drivers to avoid and the danger of short term wins

27:00 Recommended reading: Adam Grant and The Widow Clicquot

30:00 Is leadership worth it reflecting on meaning and motivation

31:00 Corporate milestones and future goals for Student Quarters

33:00 Launching Fund II and preparing for new investor opportunities

34:00 Personal goals travel, music, and exploring yoga teacher training

35:00 Closing thoughts and gratitude

Welcome to the Leaders in Real Estate Podcast featuring Lee Hayes Bradford. Lee is one of the most recognizable figures in US Multifamily and Build to Rent property management. With experience over the course of the last 20 years she has led teams for Gingko, Greystar, Quarterra, DR Horton and now Hines. In this episode, Lee shares honest lessons on leading before you feel ready, making unpopular decisions, and why calm, compassionate leadership outperforms command and control.

We covered:

00:00 – 02:10 Introducing Lee Bradford and the scale of her role at D.R. Horton

02:10 – 04:20 What really drives Lee and why she calls herself a “builder”

04:20 – 07:10 First leadership role and why no one ever feels ready

07:10 – 11:00 Biggest leadership challenge – aligning teams and finding common ground

11:00 – 14:30 Report card time – how Lee leads people to their own answers

14:30 – 18:30 The office floor story – staying calm when things go badly wrong

18:30 – 22:30 Hard decisions, being liked, and why indecision hurts teams most

22:30 – 25:30 “Be brave enough to suck at something new” and leading at the top

25:30 – 28:00 Communication, DISC and adapting your style

28:00 – 30:00 What Lee looks for in future leaders and closing advice

*At the time of recording Lee was President of Property Management or DR Horton.

Welcome to the Leaders in Real Estate Podcast featuring Mike Brewer. With over 29 years of experience in the multifamily industry, Mike is the Chief Operating Officer at Axia Residential. In our conversation he shares with real honesty and humour his personal career, leadership styles and the tool kit he has developed to succeed.

We covered:

What drives him to succeed

How can Future Leaders adapt to the needs of their teams without getting lost

What does Mike look for in Future Leaders

If you aren't a follower of Mike already he is the Co-Founder of Multifamily Media Network, where they connect over 59,000 subscribers to insightful educational and engaging podcasts on multifamily trends. Through MultifamilyCollective, his mission is to unlock human potential in the multifamily space by prioritizing leadership, development, and innovation. You can check it out here: https://multifamilycollective.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@multifamilycollective.

What is a Leaders responsibility? Make us better!

Welcome to the Leaders in Real Estate Podcast featuring Spencer Levy. Spencer Levy is Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor for CBRE, the largest commercial real estate services firm in the world. In this role, he focuses on client engagement and public-facing activities, including thought leadership work performed in conjunction with CBRE Research. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable’s Research Committee. Spencer is frequently quoted in major business publications and appears on business television, including CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, PBS and Fox Business. Spencer is the host of CBRE’s podcast “The Weekly Take.” He is considered one of the most insightful commentators on issues of importance to commercial real estate. So it was great to turn the tables on one of Real Estate most renowned hosts.

"What do you look for in FUTURE Leaders?" Leaders are chosen by Leaders. So who better to ask, "What skills or traits are expected of our future leaders?" than a Leader. I sat down with Matt Tucker, CEO and Co-CIO for Bridge Investment Group's Net Lease Strategy just this question. You can catch the full conversation by tuning into the Leaders in Real Estate Podcast.

Welcome to the Leaders in Real Estate Podcast featuring Matt Tucker. Matt Tucker serves as Senior Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridge Investment Group’s Net Lease strategy and has over 20 years experience in the commercial real estate and corporate finance industries. As Co-CIO, Matt oversees the strategy’s business activities including acquisitions, asset management, strategy, relationship building, capital sourcing, financing and executive oversight of the fund. Matt maintains extensive relationships throughout the US in the Industrial sector within the Commercial Real Estate Industry. Through his career, he has completed over $1 billion in real estate transactions.

Prior to his current position, he served as EVP and Head of the Northeast and Midwest Regions of Gladstone Commercial Corporation (NASDAQ: GOOD), a $1.5B AUM publicly traded REIT where he assembled and managed an 8mm+ square foot portfolio of industrial and office assets and lead the acquisitions and asset management teams for that portfolio. Matt formerly held investment and advisory positions with Liquid Realty Partners, SG Capital Partners and JP Morgan Chase. Matt earned an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with High Distinction and a BA from Princeton University where he was a member of the Men’s Varsity Lacrosse Team that won the 1994, 1996 and 1997 NCAA Division I Championships. He is a member of NAIOP and is active in the Industrial Development VI Forum with other leaders in the Industrial Real Estate Sector.