In this special rebroadcast, Funnel CEO Tyler Christiansen joins Matt Slepin on Leading Voices in Real Estate to explore the rise of centralization in an industry overdue for operational change, and how centralization before AI is reshaping multifamily operations.

Together, they unpack what Tyler calls the “new operating model” a shift toward centralized, specialized teams and AI-powered workflows that make leasing more efficient, renters happier, and teams more fulfilled.

The conversation traces Funnel’s early days building automated lead management tools, the “aha moment” that unlocked portfolio-level leasing, and how REITs like Essex and owner-operators like Cortland, Windsor, and UDR helped prove the model.

You’ll hear:

— Why centralization—not AI—was the first domino to fall in multifamily transformation.

— How “renter-centric architecture” changes the owner-to-resident relationship.

— What new specialized roles (like renewal and leasing hubs) mean for teams and career paths.

— How AI fits into the model once workflows are centralized and why it boosts both efficiency and retention.

— The leadership and cultural traits shared by companies successfully navigating this shift.

Tyler and Matt go deep into the structural rewiring happening beneath multifamily’s surface showing why technology is only part of the story, and why operational design is where the real innovation happens.

At the end of the episode listen to Deepali Vyas, Global Head of Data and AI at ZRG as she zooms out on what centralization and agentic AI mean for leadership, talent, and trust across real estate.

Resources: 

• Leading Voices in Real Estate Podcast: https://www.zrgpartners.com/leadingvoices/
• ZRG Partners: https://www.zrgpartners.com/our-team/matt-slepin/
• If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll love Forum. Register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration

To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.