What happens when your real estate team is built on friendship but lacks the right mix of skills, and how do you fix it before it breaks everything? In this episode, Angel welcomes real estate investor and developer Andy McMullen for a deep dive into team dynamics, communication, and the reality of partnerships in the multifamily and build-to-rent space. Andy reflects on two decades of lessons learned—from stumbling through his first syndication to building a high-performing team with diverse skill sets. The conversation unpacks what makes partnerships succeed or fail, the importance of identifying your strengths, and how to set up systems that allow teams to pivot when markets shift.

 

[00:01 - 05:00] From Residential to Syndication: Andy’s Starting Point

• What the transition from brokerage and development to multifamily syndication taught Andy early on
• Why build-to-rent is a growing strategy for families and institutional buyers alike
• The significance of phased development as a risk management tool

 

[05:01 - 10:24] | Team Troubles and Realignment

• The importance of exit strategies—both for deals and for partnerships
• Why some team “divorces” are about fit, not failure
• How different personality types impact leadership and team performance under pressure

 

[10:25 - 15:46] | Discovering and Owning Your Superpower

• How Angel and her husband divided roles based on strengths—not assumptions
• The need to understand what truly energizes each team member
• Why knowing your natural talents isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary

 

[15:47 - 19:30] | When Being the Smartest Person Fails

• Why Andy’s first syndication fell apart—and what he learned from the fallout
• The need for humility and delegation in high-stakes deals
• The importance of building relationships with investors, property managers, and tenants

 

[19:31 - 00:23:53] Ego, Leadership, and Letting Go

• How Andy redefined leadership by hiring people smarter than him.
• The importance of structure and support roles—from COOs to virtual assistants
• Why scaling means giving up control and embracing feedback

 

 

Connect with Andy:

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andymcmullen/

 

 

Key Quotes:

 

“If you don't know what your superpower is, send two questions to five people. I got back seven responses that all said the same thing—and it changed how I saw myself.” - Angel William

 

“I wanted to be the smartest guy on the team. Then I realized I was better off surrounding myself with people who were better at everything I wasn’t.” - Andy McMullen

 

 

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