In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews sits down with Brian Finnegan, President and CEO of Brixmor Property Group (NYSE: BRX), one of the largest open-air shopping center owners and operators in the United States.

Brian’s story is a masterclass in leadership, patience, and long-term career growth. Starting as a leasing representative in 2004, he spent more than two decades working through nearly every operational role in the company before ultimately becoming CEO of a publicly traded real estate investment trust with 344 shopping centers, 62+ million square feet of retail space, and more than 900 million annual consumer visits.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro

00:55 Welcome to the Show

02:25 Understanding Brixmor Property Group

05:10 Retail's Resurgence

08:04 Supply and Demand Dynamics

11:19 Same Store Growth

12:51 How We Met

15:13 Networking as a Young Professional

16:49 Brixmor's Evolution and History

20:41 Lessons from Being Young

22:30 Philadelphia Roots

24:29 Getting Into Real Estate

26:49 Brokerage Lessons

28:33 Cold Calling Stories

30:56 Dealing with Rejection

34:32 Time Blocking and Prospecting

35:10 Maximizing Your Current Role

38:01 Moving Across America

39:37 Embracing New Cities

40:54 National Portfolio Experience

41:36 Market Expertise Matters

43:14 Career Growth and Relocation

45:20 Becoming CEO

49:07 First Quarter Success

51:59 CEO Responsibilities

53:13 Redevelopment Strategy

56:08 Work Life Balance

01:00:13 Technology and AI

01:05:07 Innovation and Young Talent

01:07:50 Advice for Young Professionals

01:10:01 Rapid Fire Round

If you're interested in commercial real estate, investing, leadership, entrepreneurship, career growth, public companies, REITs, retail real estate, or business strategy, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world experience.

Follow Brian Finnegan:

LinkedIn: Brian Finnegan

Learn More About Brixmor Property Group:

Website: https://www.brixmor.com

NYSE: BRX

Follow Kyle Matthews:

Instagram: @KyleMatthewsCEO

TikTok: @KyleMatthewsCEO

X: @KyleMatthewsCEO

LinkedIn: Kyle Matthews

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