In this episode of Multifamily Unpacked, we sit down with one of the industry's most thoughtful observers and storytellers: Matt Slepin. As a longtime executive recruiter, former lobbyist, and host of the "Leading Voices in Real Estate" podcast, Matt has had a front-row seat to the evolution of multifamily real estate over the past four decades.

Tyler and Matt dig deep on the past, present, and future of the industry—covering everything from the institutionalization of multifamily as an asset class to the slow but necessary shift toward centralization and tech-enabled operations. They unpack how the REIT era rewired expectations for leadership, why talent pipelines are still too shallow, and what it means to “play the long game” in a space defined by relationships, reinvention, and relentless change.

What you’ll learn:

• Why multifamily wasn’t always considered an institutional investment class—and what changed
• The unintended consequences of promoting from within in property management
• The balancing act of centralization in third-party management
• How AI and technology are reshaping operational leadership—and why human-centric leadership still matters
• Why career success in multifamily is less about the “perfect resume” and more about curiosity, context, and consistency

Links + resources:

• Leading Voices in Real Estate Podcast: https://www.zrgpartners.com/leadingvoices/
• ZRG Partners: https://www.zrgpartners.com/our-team/matt-slepin/
• Listen to Tyler on Matt’s show: https://www.zrgpartners.com/insights/leading-voices-tyler-christiansen/
• Learn more about FoodExtra here: https://extrafood.org/

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