Most careers in commercial real estate stall not from lack of talent, but because no one explains how advancement actually works.

In this episode, we sit down with Marcy Moneypenny, Founder of The Moneypenny Collective, to talk candidly about what it really takes to move from strong execution to sustained senior-level influence in CRE.

Marcy draws on more than three decades inside institutional commercial real estate to explain why the industry functions as an ecosystem. We unpack why so many capable Directors and VPs plateau, and why “just keep producing” is incomplete advice for long-term advancement.

A key highlight is the distinction between mentorship and sponsorship. Sponsorship, Marcy explains, is where real acceleration happens. It's what occurs when someone is willing to spend their reputation and social capital on your behalf in rooms you may never enter.

We also explore how leaders can intentionally shape their professional signal, navigate organizational dynamics without compromising integrity, and build career durability over decades.

This is a strategic, clear-eyed conversation about influence, retention, and career longevity. Listeners will leave with the knowledge of how to move beyond execution and intentionally design a career that scales.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. The unspoken realities of career advancement in CRE
2. Why execution alone is not enough at senior levels
3. The difference between mentorship and sponsorship
4. How leaders can intentionally shape visibility, influence, and longevity

Resources from this Episode

www.marcymoneypenny.com

Marcy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-moneypenny-18a25011/

amycalandrino.com

creorlando.com

thecalandrinofoundation.org

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

In this episode, we sit down with Jackie Hirsch, founder of Crowne Atlantic Properties, to unpack where business value, exit strategy, and real estate decisions truly intersect. Drawing on nearly three decades of advising owners through sales and valuations, Jackie brings a grounded, experience-first lens to how businesses are actually priced and why “valuation” and “value” are not the same thing.

We explore what buyers really look for, from normalized EBITDA and owner dependence to customer concentration and capital expenditure needs. Jackie explains why clean financials, realistic owner compensation, and a business that can operate without heroic effort from the founder often matter more than the headline revenue number. We also dig into how exits unfold in the real world, rarely in straight lines, and why waiting too long to prepare can quietly erode both leverage and outcomes.

We discuss when owning versus leasing creates flexibility and optionality, and how real estate decisions can either support a smooth transaction or become an unexpected friction point that complicates deals.

Listeners will walk away with a clearer framework for building real, transferable business value and making decisions today that support better outcomes tomorrow.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. How buyers actually evaluate business value versus what owners expect
2. The difference between valuation and real, transferable value
3. The impact of owner dependence, clean financials, and customer concentration
4. When owning versus leasing real estate helps or hurts a sale
5. What exits really look like in practice and why timing matters
6. Who is buying businesses right now and how capital is behaving in the market

Resources from this Episode

amycalandrino.com

creorlando.com

thecalandrinofoundation.org

https://www.crowneatlantic.com/

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

The Performance Mindset Show helps business owners, leaders, and investors make better decisions without the noise, hustle culture, or transactional thinking.

Hosted by commercial real estate advisor, investor, and author Amy Calandrino, each episode blends real-world strategy with the mindset required to execute. You’ll hear honest conversations with high-performing entrepreneurs, executives, creatives, and advisors about how they build resilience, create alignment, and grow long-term wealth without burning out.

This show is for you if you’re navigating decisions with real consequences: scaling up (or right-sizing), leasing vs. buying, evaluating a deal, planning transitions, or simply trying to turn what you know into what you do. Expect clearer thinking, better questions, and practical takeaways you can apply immediately in business, commercial real estate, and life.

If you’re ready to trade quick wins for lasting progress, you’re in the right place.

In this episode, we sit down with Gabe Einhorn, founder of VryfID and PRAYS, to unpack why trust is becoming harder to establish, and more essential, across real estate transactions. Drawing from his early experience in NYC commercial real estate, Gabe explains how brokers and landlords still rely on fragmented, unverified documents, even as AI makes it easier than ever to fabricate proof of funds or identities. That gap between speed and certainty is what pushed him to build VryfID: a platform designed to organize sensitive information, verify both sides of a deal, and remove bad data before it wastes time or creates risk.

We explore how verification changes outcomes in practical terms- from cutting down unqualified applicants to helping professionals avoid months of lost rent or failed deals, and why technology should simplify decisions, not add noise. The conversation also moves beyond tools into mindset. Gabe connects his background in competitive soccer to the discipline, teamwork, and emotional leadership required to build something meaningful early in a career. He shares what consistency looks like as a founder, and how faith and purpose, expressed through PRAYS, help him stay aligned under pressure.

Listeners can expect a grounded, practical discussion about trust as infrastructure, the real risks of unverified data, and why work ethic still matters when you’re building for the long term.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. Why trust is breaking down in real estate transactions
2. The rise of AI-driven fraud and unverified data risks
3. Building VryfID to verify people and documents before deals happen
4. How removing bad data saves time and improves outcomes for brokers and landlords
5. Work ethic, discipline, and lessons from competitive sports
6. Faith, purpose, and staying aligned while building something early in your career

Resources from this Episode

amycalandrino.com

creorlando.com

thecalandrinofoundation.org

Follow Gabe on Instagram: @gabe_einhorn

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

On this episode of the Performance Mindset Show, Amy sits down with her friend, Sarah Grafton, co-founder of Grafton Wealth Advisors, a leading, independent financial advisory firm grounded in family values and client service. She is the visionary behind Winter Park Fashion Week, co-founder of the Park Avenue District, and a champion of local business and community excellence. Sarah is one of Winter Park’s most inspiring leaders, blending business, philanthropy, creativity, and heart into everything she does.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Sarah Grafton’s involvement in Winter Park, Florida, and what drew her to business development and nonprofits.
2. What it means to be a servant leader, Sarah’s role at Grafton Wealth Advisors, and what drives her work.
3. The benefits of becoming an independent advisory firm rather than being under the umbrella of a larger organization.
4. The importance of hiring a commercial real estate agent who really knows the area.
5. Winter Park’s Park Avenue District and how Sarah helped develop it.
6. The creation of Winter Park Fashion Week and the organizations it benefits.
7. Grafton Family Foundation’s giving, in addition to the giving Grafton Wealth Advisors does.
8. Sarah’s advice to not be afraid of the “no” and to give something new a try anyway.
9. Planning work around your faith and family, keeping your priorities at the forefront, and maintaining a growth mindset.
10. Building downtime into your schedule and taking care of yourself.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Amy Calandrino: https://linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Sarah Grafton:

https://www.graftonwealth.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahgrafton

On today’s Performance Mindset Show, Amy sits down with Paul Twyford, co-founder of Winter Park Distilling Company in Winter Park, Florida. Winter Park Distilling Company is the first legal craft distillery in Winter Park, and Paul is one of Florida’s pioneers in authentic small-batch spirits. He is also a long-time community builder who believes in the magic of Winter Park, which comes from its relationships, from local businesses to neighborhood traditions. Paul helped shape the region’s craft spirits movement while remaining deeply involved in civic life and local connection.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why Paul Twyford and his partner, Andrew Asher, founded Winter Park Distilling Company, and the other roles he holds around the city.
2. Offering kids opportunities outside of the traditional path of good grades and college.
3. Paul’s inspiration for Winter Park Distilling Company and how he got permission to bring bourbon to the Florida market.
4. Winter Park’s charm and appeal, and what to do there if you only have 24 hours.
5. The food partnership Winter Park Distilling developed, and how it’s going.
6. Collaboration opportunities around Winter Park and what Paul sees in the city’s future.
7. How the natural business cycle can shape a city's trajectory.
8. Paul’s partnership with Winter Pines Golf Club.
9. What he’s learned about patience, resilience, and creativity as an entrepreneur.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Amy Calandrino: https://linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Paul Twyford:

Winter Park Distilling Company: https://wpdistilling.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-twyford-77982aa

Today’s episode of the Performance Mindset Show features Brandon Avedikian, founder of Aspire Commercial, a Houston-based boutique brokerage built on innovation, integrity, and strategic advisory. Brandon has completed more than 450 transactions totaling over $155 million. He launched Aspire in 2023 to bring a fresh, modern approach to commercial real estate. In addition to his successful brokerage, Brandon is also a CPA, broker, husband, and father of three young children. He is a leader in the commercial real estate influencer space, known for thoughtful content and for early adoption of AI in brokerage.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Brandon Avedikian’s position at Aspire Commercial, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage and property management firm based in Houston, Texas.
2. The evolution of Brandon’s firm and what prepared him the most for launching Aspire.
3. Balancing perfectionism with delegation and what traditional brokerages often get wrong.
4. The importance of content in building a business, why it takes time to get good at it, and Brandon’s tips for finding new social media content ideas.
5. How he’s implementing AI in his brokerage and the need to double-check its information.
6. Balancing a young family with career goals.
7. What Brandon is most proud of in his career and business, and his plans for the future.
8. His answers to Amy’s rapid-fire questions.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Amy Calandrino - https://linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Brandon Avedikian:

www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-avedikian

On today’s episode of the Performance Mindset Show, Amy welcomes back Tommy Brachey, founder of Key Real Estate Consulting and Advisor, Vice President for eXp Commercial. Based in Dallas, Texas, Tommy specializes in pairing deeded mineral properties with 1031 exchanges, self-directed IRAs, and solo 401(k) plans. He partners with real estate brokers, 1031 qualified intermediaries, family offices, fund managers, business brokers, and estate planners to drive deal flow nationwide. Tommy is also the author of “Leveraging Mineral Rights and the 1031 Exchange.”

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Tommy Brachey’s role as the owner of Key Real Estate Consulting and Advisor, Vice President for eXP Commercial.
2. The three different estates of real estate and how mineral rights fit within those categories.
3. Educating investors on mineral rights and why they become repeat business.
4. Investing time in social media and marketing to bring in new clients.
5. The events Tommy hosts and what makes them so successful.
6. The importance of authenticity while maintaining decorum.
7. Using self-directed qualified retirement plans to hold mineral rights and the importance of vetting the custodian of the plan.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Amy Calandrino: https://linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Tommy Brachey:

www.bettercalltommy.com

Selling Buildings by Bob Knakal and Rod Santomassimo

On today’s Performance Mindset Show, Amy welcomes returning guest Ken Ashley. Ken is a fellow CCIM and SIOR as well as the Executive Director at Cushman & Wakefield. He is also one of the most accomplished tenant advisors in the U.S., with more than 25 years of experience helping companies align business strategy with smart real estate decisions. Ken is consistently recognized as a top producer both in Atlanta and nationally. Additionally, he is the founder of the CREi Summit, a movement that brings commercial real estate professionals together online and in person.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Ken Ashley’s role in a tenant rep position and how he helps his clients avoid career-limiting moves (CLMs).
2. The things that energize Ken most about his work, community, and leadership.
3. Ken’s predictions for 2026 and why companies are rethinking office spaces.
4. The CREi Summit, why it keeps growing and getting better, and how your success can impact your community.
5. The future of CREi gatherings and its increasing focus on using AI to get better results.
6. Tactics Ken uses to help build and nurture relationships.
7. Ken’s upcoming book, “The Real Estate Prescription: How to Get Hired in Commercial Real Estate and Make Multimillion Dollar Deals,” and what you can expect to learn from it.
8. His advice for building success despite the concerning headlines right now.
9. The art of asking someone for advice.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

Amy Calandrino - https://linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Ken Ashley:

Website - https://www.kenashleycre.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenashleyatlanta/

Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks - https://www.amazon.com/Storyworthy-Engage-Persuade-through-Storytelling-ebook/dp/B07CV2PFYJ

Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy - https://www.amazon.com/Who-Not-How-Accelerating-Teamwork-ebook/dp/B0867ZJ151

Rich Relationships by Selena Soo - https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Relationships-Million-Dollar-Network-Business/dp/B0F35GH7RQ

On today’s Performance Mindset Show, Amy sits down with the founding attorney at Joshi Law Firm, Rajan Joshi. Rajan leads one of Central Florida’s most respected criminal defense teams, representing clients in state and federal cases. His fierce commitment to advocacy and justice led Rajan to build a career defined by discipline, resilience, and excellence, with quality shaped both in and out of the courtroom through his personal journey, fitness, and sobriety. Known for his daily messages of encouragement and accountability on social media, Rajan inspires thousands to show up with intention.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Rajan Joshi’s full-service criminal defense law practice and how he created a winning team.
2. Treating setbacks as learning experiences, and what led him into criminal defense.
3. The role physical fitness plays in Rajan’s professional and personal life.
4. Making time in your day to take care of yourself, whether it’s prepping meals or working out.
5. Rajan’s journey to sobriety, why he openly shares his story with others, and how working the 12 Steps helped him look outside himself.
6. His tools for remaining calm, centered, and present, and maintaining that mindset.
7. Maintaining boundaries to retain your peace.

Connect with Amy Calandrino here:

linktr.ee/amycalandrino

Connect with Rajan Joshi:

www.joshi-law.com

Phone: (407) 661-1109

www.facebook.com/joshilawfirm

www.instagram.com/rajanattorney

www.linkedin.com/in/rajan-joshi-77aa48182