MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries

Jan 27 2025 15 ep. 39 mins
MIT/CRE Meet the Visionaries Podcast artwork

In this semimonthly, student-driven podcast, MIT Center for Real Estate will interview industry leaders to uncover the insights, strategies, and stories from the visionaries who are shaping the industry. Join us as we explore the ever-evolving landscape of real estate, from innovative technology and finance models to the latest sustainable practices. Get ready to gain valuable perspectives and be inspired by the visionaries who are leading the way into the future of real estate development.

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Affordable Housing: The Missing Middle

Jan 27 2025 47 mins  
In this episode, we welcome AJ Jackson, President of LEO Impact Capital, a subsidiary of JBG Smith focused on acquiring, financing, and operating workforce housing using an Impact Framework. AJ serves on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the Fannie Mae Affordable Housing Advisory Council, NMHC’s Workforce Housing Committee, and is Chair of the Advisory Board at the

The Game Plan: Real Estate Leadership

Jan 12 2025 31 mins  
In this episode, we welcome Joe Azelby, former NFL linebacker and current Head of Real Estate and Private Markets for UBS Asset Management. With a career spanning from professional sports to managing real estate, infrastructure, and private equity investments. Joe brings perspective to leadership, strategy, and the evolving real estate landscape. Hosted by Dean Firouzian, a studen

Architect of Change: Sustainability in Practice

Dec 09 2024 34 mins  
In this episode we welcome Tess McNamara, AIA, a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Arup and faculty member at the Yale School of Architecture. Tess shares her journey that propelled her to the intersection of research, design, and implementation, where she is driving advancements in sustainable built environments. She offers insights into her role at Arup, where her research in

Fusion Physicist to Real Estate Visionary

Nov 15 2024 36 mins  
In this episode, we sit down with Jill Brosig, Senior Managing Director and Chief Impact Officer at Harrison Street, a global investment management firm headquartered in Chicago. With a background as a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory, KMS Fusion, and Motorola, Jill brings a unique perspective to the pursuit of aggressive sustainability goals in real estate. As a pioneer in

Collaborative Development

Nov 03 2024 37 mins  
How can we create cities where people truly thrive? In this episode, Thure Krarup, Head of Global Stakeholder Relations at Urban Partners, joins us from Copenhagen to explore how meaningful, big-picture partnerships can drive lasting change at scale. Hosted by Soala Lolia Ajienka, a dual-degree Architecture and Real Estate Development student at MIT, this conversation delves into t

Shift to a Non-Linear World

Oct 20 2024 52 mins  
In this episode, we host Dror Poleg, Economic Historian and award-winning author of Rethinking Real Estate. Dror is an insightful voice on the evolving intersection of technology, work, and urban environments. Hosted by Larry Deng, a student at the MIT Center for Real Estate, this episode offers a fascinating deep dive into the forces reshaping how we live, work, and build. Dror sh

Climate Impact and Rewarding Returns

Sep 29 2024 38 mins  
In our season premiere, we welcome Joe Sumberg, Head of Real Estate, and Nicolette Jaze, Head of ESG and Sustainability for Real Estate at Galvanize Real Estate. Together, they share the innovative sustainability principles that underpin Galvanize’s distinctive approach to real estate investment. Hosted by Sam Jakshtis, a student in the MIT Center for Real Estate, this episode sh

Practicing Real Estate with Purpose

Jun 24 2024 62 mins  
Onay Payne is a Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Manulife Investment Management, leading the firm’s ESG impact investment strategy. She works with various teams to screen investments, identify ESG risks and opportunities, optimize portfolios, enhance asset performance, maximize returns, and set ESG benchmarks. She is part of the global real estate leadership team

Leadership for Sustainable Real Estate

May 13 2024 32 mins  
What do we need in transitional and uncertain times? Leaders. On this episode of Meet the Visionaries, we have the pleasure of interviewing Mahbod Nia, CEO of Veris Residential. We explore the sustainability values Veris Residential holds under Mahbod’s leadership, and learn more about how the company has undergone a strategic transformation. Hosted by Daniela Morales, student a

Exploring Climate Resilience in Real Estate

Apr 22 2024 34 mins  
In this episode, join us as Viet Nguyen of MIT’s Center for Real Estate interviews Natalie Ambrosio Preudhomme, Associate Director at Moody’s Analytics CRE, a provider of innovative commercial real estate solutions for investors, lenders, and brokers. In her role, Natalie conducts research and outreach on the implications of climate risk, resilience and ESG on real estate marke