Leading Voices in Real Estate

This episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate features an in-depth conversation with Don Wood, CEO and President of Federal Realty Investment Trust, one of the oldest companies in the REIT industry and the only one to raise its dividend for 58 consecutive years. Don and host Matt Slepin discuss how the REIT investor base has evolved during his tenure, the growing contrast between public REITs and private equity, and how leading REITs use joint ventures to diversify their capital.The episode covers Federal’s 27 million square foot retail and mixed use portfolio in high income, high barrier markets and looks at the company’s value through both NAV and cash flow perspectives. They explore the unique aspects of retail real estate, including tenant strategy, placemaking, and creating destinations where people want to shop and gather. The conversation also highlights the importance of pairing a strong operating platform with a top tier portfolio.Matt reflects on the broader retail environment during Black Friday, encourages listeners to think about their impact and leadership at this time of year, and shares plans for the podcast’s expanded global focus in 2026.

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with Jeffrey Hoopes, President of the West Region for Suffolk Construction to explore how the general contracting business is evolving and what it means to lead, build, and eventually pass the baton in a rapidly changing industry.This episode marks a first: a deep dive with a senior executive from the general contracting world. Jeff shares hard-earned perspective from decades in the field, reflecting on the pace of technological adoption in construction and why meaningful change requires both context and skepticism, not just excitement for the latest shiny tool. He explains how the sector is modernizing while staying grounded in fundamentals: safety, craftsmanship, relationships, and the patient discipline required to build complex, lasting structures.The conversation also turns deeply personal and surprisingly candid as Matt and Jeff discuss leadership transitions, retirement vs. semi-retirement, and the emotional and strategic challenges leaders face when letting go. Jeffrey offers a thoughtful look at reinvention and purpose beyond the CEO chair. Matt shares his own experience approaching “semi-retirement,” and the two explore how leaders can prepare themselves and their organizations for succession with grace, clarity, and long-term vision.Whether you're in real estate, construction, or leadership at any stage of your career, this episode offers wisdom, laughter, and grounded insights from two industry veterans. Tune in to hear how the business of building—both structures and careers—is changing, and what it means to lead well across a lifetime.

In this episode, Joe Muratore and Ryan Swehla reveal how they’re unlocking opportunities in secondary and tertiary real estate markets—areas often underestimated yet rich with potential. They push back against the misconception that only primary markets deliver results, showing how overlooked regions can provide strong, sustainable returns with the right strategy.The conversation also highlights the critical role of partnerships. Rather than chasing every deal, they carefully align with partners who share their vision and values. This intentional approach leverages diverse expertise while maintaining unity of purpose, allowing them to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities where others might hesitate.For investors ready to think differently, this episode is a roadmap to uncovering new frontiers.

Join us as we dive into the career journey of Debra Cafaro, the Chairman and CEO of Ventas. From her humble beginnings in Pittsburgh to leading one of the largest REITs, Debbie shares her insights on leadership, innovation, and the strategic decisions that have propelled Ventas to the forefront of the real estate industry.Resources:Debra Cafaro | LinkedInDebra Cafaro bioVentas website

Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator and President of Bright Harbor, discusses the preparedness, systems and infrastructure our country and our industry needs to effectively respond to disasters. In our previous episode with Lew Horne and David Waite, we talked about our industry's response to the January Los Angeles fire disaster and, more generally, the real estate industry’s role in preparedness, immediate response, and rebuilding in these disasters.

In this revisit of our conversation from 2023, Brett White, the outgoing Executive Chair of Cushman & Wakefield and prior CEO of CBRE, tells the story of the growth and evolution of these now giant global real estate service firms. In this rebroadcast episode, Brett discusses the evolution of today’s giant global real estate service platforms from essentially brokerage shops to the full-service firms that they are today.

At the 25 th Anniversary of their firm, RealFoundations, Co-Founders David Stanford and Chris Shaida deliver a masterclass on how information technology and AI are impacting the real estate industry. This episode is Part 1 of our two-part series exploring the influence of information technology and artificial intelligence on the real estate business.

Ben Miller, CEO and Co-Founder of Fundrise, joins Matt for a compelling conversation about the company’s mission to transform the real estate investment landscape through its innovative, online, direct-to-consumer platform. What began as a low-fee real estate fund has since expanded to include venture capital, marking a bold step in reshaping traditional investment models.