Driven By Insight: Recent Episodes
Walker & Dunlop, Willy Walker, Walker Webcast
Bringing you fresh perspectives beyond commercial real estate from the popular Walker Webcast series. Walker & Dunlop CEO Willy Walker taps into a diverse network of leaders to share wisdom that cuts across industry lines. His guests are experts in their fields – from leading economists and CEOs to Harvard and Yale professors, and everything in between. Our one goal is simple: providing our listeners with unique insights, unparalleled data, and real-time market analyses.
Make sure you buy Christina’s book, The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger than Your Business Card. On this Walker Webcast, we are joined by Christina Wallace, serial entrepreneur and top professor at Harvard Business School where she is the co-course head for The Entrepreneurial Manager, teaches Launching Tech Ventures, and leads HBS Startup Bootcamp for student entrepreneurs. A self-described “human Venn diagram,” Christina crafted a career at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts and believes that when it comes to pursuing your passions, you shouldn’t have to choose. Watch the replay If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
Our next guest is one of the most influential economists for businesses, journalists, and the public and is a trusted adviser to the nation’s top policymakers. As the leading provider of economic research and data, he has made a career out of helping clients navigate the ever-changing marketplace. Dr. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, joins Willy on the Walker Webcast to discuss the multi and single-family housing markets, predictions about the Federal Reserve’s next move, the strength of the U.S. economy, and so much more. Watch the replay If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
For the 150th episode of the Walker Webcast, we welcomed Marc Lipschultz, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Blue Owl Capital Inc., one of the fastest-growing alternative asset management firms with $144 billion in assets under management. He and Willy discussed Blue Owl’s innovative business model, the shift from public to private markets, how AI is impacting investment strategies, his company’s CRE platform, the growth of the alternative fuel and energy space, and much more. Watch or listen to the replay. If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
Live from the Walker & Dunlop Summer Conference, Willy was joined by financial icon Kiril Sokoloff. He is the Founder and CEO of independent institutional global research firm, 13D Research & Strategy, and is considered one of the greatest investors of our time. He and Willy touched on today’s hottest topics including the power of AI and its effect on humankind, the economic landscape in the U.S. and across the globe, his opinion on new world order, climate change and clean energy, the strength of the U.S. dollar and what that means for the nation’s economy, and so much more. Watch or listen to the replay. If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
Our most watched guest is back with even more hot takes on the economy and CRE. Willy was joined once again by acclaimed economist, Dr. Peter Linneman. They covered today’s most pressing issues including the Fed’s next move, the impact of the economy on the CRE asset classes, which regions are seeing the most growth, his predictions for the future, and much more. Watch or listen to the replay. If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
On the latest episode of the Walker Webcast, we welcomed National Book Award-winning journalist at The New Yorker magazine, CNN contributor, and co-host of The Political Scene podcast, Evan Osnos. He is also the bestselling author of Wildland: The Making of America's Fury, Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now, and Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China. He and Willy covered a range of topics from his books including US-China relations, the Biden presidency and polarized politics, fixing the machinery of our nation’s political system, and much more. Watch or listen to the replay If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
On a special in-person episode of the Walker Webcast, Willy sat down with Greg Maffei, President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Media. He is also the Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment, Sirius XM, and Trip Advisor – and we’ve barely scratched the surface. The pair discussed the building blocks of his remarkable career, what attracted him to the Formula 1 franchise and its direction for the future, the evolution of the video and music streaming industries, the impact of AI on Liberty Media’s businesses, and so much more. Watch or listen to the replay. If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
On a special episode of the Walker Webcast, Willy sat down with legendary athlete, businessman, and philanthropist, Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) – and they covered all the bases. The pair discussed Alex’s remarkable baseball career, performing under pressure, how he balances his business ventures and managing the Minnesota Timberwolves, his multifamily real estate endeavors, and so much more. Watch or listen to the replay If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to your main Walker & Dunlop point of contact. We are all available to answer questions and provide assistance. Additionally, if you have topics you would like covered during one of our future webcasts, we would be happy to take your suggestions.
Willy welcomes Clarke Murphy. He is the Board and CEO Leadership Advisor at Russell Reynolds Associates. He leverages 30 years of experience in the executive recruiting industry to advise on critical leadership mandates across sectors. He has provided leadership advisory services to corporations, such as Duke Energy, Deutsche Bank, and Siemens. Before joining Russell Reynolds, he was a banking officer at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company. He hosts the Redefiners podcast, interviewing daring leaders who have transformed their organizations and created extraordinary impact.
Clarke Murphy begins by talking about the smooth and textbook leadership transition in Russell Reynolds, the ideal number of board members, and the biggest benefit to running a public company – a strong focus on the client. The popularity of LinkedIn did not kill off the executive search firm because Clarke believes that posting resumes isn’t recruitment and that the website is more of a career development community. With Russell Reynolds, Clarke chose to focus on advising and recruiting board members, CEOs, and C-suite candidates, concentrating on board effectiveness and leadership development. The company has also worked closely with LinkedIn, testing new products and services and leveraging each other’s communities. Clarke explains how CEO academies should be transparent to their participants that they are investing time and money in them. He was anxious that the pandemic would encourage cost-cutting and layoffs due to not being able to afford to keep their employees. However, he believes that the best companies in the world retain their best people longer than their competitors. Currently, talent wins because of the abundance of cash, resulting in the nature of a leader significantly changing in the past 20 years. “Leadership is no longer about leading. It’s about creating followership,” he says. He thinks young people are thirsty for knowledge and improvement and will stay if you assure them that they’re on a winning team. Clarke enjoys sailing and retells his near-death experience of mistaking a 40-foot steel barnacle-covered container for a whale. However, his cautious and quick-thinking skills saved him and his crew. He explains how successful leaders all had sustainability mindsets with the four competencies: multi-level system thinking, stakeholder inclusion, disruptive innovation, and long-term activation. They also achieved a balance of people, the planet, and profit.
Willy welcomes Bobby Turner. He is the CEO and Principal of Turner Impact and has established himself as a pioneer in social impact investing. A graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he is the former Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founding Partner of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors. He has committed to offering reasonable financial returns for investors and developing opportunities for underserved communities.
Bobby Turner opens the show by relating the importance of sports in becoming a successful businessman, as it teaches you how problems come quickly. He fondly remembers Baltimore, growing up with "great perspective and diversity." He believes in reigniting the American dream as the pandemic has proven our resilience but demotivated the nation, highlighting the crises in food, housing, and healthcare and the disparity of wealth and hope. He emphasizes the importance of evolving, exploring and trying new experiences, and seeing the social issues in our present world. He recalls working for his father in a footwear factory in Puerto Rico as an eye-opener. He describes the working conditions as "subhuman" and "disheartening." After speaking with fellow machine operators, he unraveled how most of them don't have other options for livelihood. He explains how most people forget their privilege and that nobody is entitled to success; thus, we must pay our luck forward. Money being the sole metric of success was an idea Bobby refused to adhere to as he delved into philanthropy and saw how organizations only provided Band-Aid answers to entrenched problems—curing these required durable, scalable, sustainable, and profitable market forces. He formed the Canyon Johnson Urban Fund with Magic Johnson in 1998, raising $5 million in two years. Fighting against arrogance and distrust, he discovered the mismatch between supply and demand in underserved communities. Operating in these areas requires a diverse perspective to understand the people.
Willy welcomes Dr. Larry Sabato. He is a political scientist, political analyst, and the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia. He is the founder and director of the university's Center for Politics, which publishes Sabato's Ball, his online newsletter where he writes electoral predictions and analysis.
Dr. Larry Sabato begins by discussing remaining nonpartisan in an increasingly divisive environment. He is only interested in picking the winners and claims to have a good idea of where the upcoming results are going. He aims to get people involved and excited about politics. Research done by the Center of Politics interviewed 1,000 Donald Trump supporters and 1,000 Joe Biden supporters, which resulted in 51% of Trump supporters believing that Democratic states should secede from the union, and 42% of Biden supporters wish the same for Republican states. Nowadays, people feel strongly about their campaigns that even some Americans don't believe that Biden was legitimately elected despite zero evidence of fraud. People think they're entitled to facts and opinions in a no-facts era. Dr. Sabato calls for returning to basics and the civic education of young people. Although existing systems work, Dr. Sabato recommends voting on paper to eliminate questioning. Having computers with the Internet creates doubts and is at risk of hacking. It's difficult for a third party to emerge even though it can change political dynamics. The two major parties comprise most of Congress and wouldn't want a smaller slice of the pie. Gerrymandering is a big issue, with Democrats in Virginia making decisions that, in the end, favored Republicans. Dr. Sabato talks about open primaries where people vote for four candidates in order, and each candidate receives a certain number of votes based on how high they are ranked. This system can produce centrist results, and Dr. Sabato is open to this reform.
Despite Donald Trump receiving a larger turnout than usual, Dr. Sabato still hopes more people will be voting this year. Moving on to the gubernatorial elections, he describes how "hypocrisy is the lifeblood of politics." He predicts Brian Kemp winning even without a runoff. He explains how split-ticket results are rare, as their parties determine 90% of voters. He says we shouldn't believe the Gallup polls, and split ticketing mainly happened in the 70s. An entirely Republican sweep isn't possible, one of the reasons being the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He foresees Republicans winning Oregon, Wisconsin, and Kansas. Although Massachusetts and Maryland are Republican, Dr. Sabato thinks they will lose in a landslide. He believes that Sonny Perdue leaning heavily in Trump's direction was a mistake that ended his career. He explains how the Republican party is divided into two halves: one is entirely dedicated to Trump, and the other is much more conservative than Larry Hogan. He predicts Jared Polis is not running against Biden, but reruns are possible. It's also expected that Kevin McCarthy will win as a speaker. He describes how every president will experience one or both Houses of Congress controlled by the other party, but veto power will be exercised to counter it.
Willy welcomes James Stavridis. He is a retired US Navy Admiral and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and the best-selling author of 2034: A Novel of the Next World War and To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision. He is currently the Vice Chair of Global Affairs, Managing Director of the Carlyle Group, and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation.
James begins discussing his career in the Naval Academy in the late 1970s. Being on a top-five national-ranked team, his coach brought over an experienced Pakistani player, beating him and his members, making it his first lesson on humility. In his freshman year, he decided to be a sailor, much to his father's disappointment, who was a former infantry officer. But the choice paid off 25 years later. The first 20 years of his career were during the Cold War. He described knowing every detail of every Russian warship and conducting tabletop exercises. He points out aircraft carriers as the US's biggest advantage over Russia, while their strong point was undersea warfare. He mentions how the current Russian army is only a shadow of its former self. Due to bombings of US embassies in East Africa, James and his group were tasked to launch Tomahawk missiles on Osama Bin Laden's residence in the late 1990s. The mission failed because Pakistani residents informed Bin Laden of their presence. In 2001, Bin Laden returned fire on the Pentagon, killing many of James' close comrades and friends, ironically in the "safest place in the world." James affirms how Navy men are trained firefighters, able to combat the fire after the bombing.
The Pentagon bombing taught James that "life can change forever in an instant," the importance of being ready at all times, and the flexibility in changing strategies. After 911, James was tasked with creating a tactical think tank called Deep Blue, gathering the smartest men in all ranks for a year and a half before becoming a carrier strike commander. The anger fueled James and the rest of the military to implement dramatic changes and innovate, fighting against internal parochialism. He emphasizes the importance of breaking those barriers in times of crisis. He believes the workforce should be challenged, incentivized, and rewarded for new ideas. He uses "innovation cells," having a small number of switched-on people to brainstorm with and compensating them exceptionally for their work. James thinks the US is not paying enough attention to South America, despite engaging with Colombia previously. He explains how South America has untapped potential for natural resources and economic and cultural diversity. Finland and Sweden joining NATO is a formidable threat against Vladimir Putin's war as these nations are highly-skilled air and land fighters, respectively. Their geographical locations and hold on the Arctic are also advantages.
Willy welcomes Diana Walker, his mother. She is well-known for her work as a Time magazine White House photographer from 1984 to 2004. Before getting her big break, she freelanced for weddings and bar mitzvahs. She has covered historical moments and figures of the United States, such as Walter Mondale's presidential campaign, Steve Jobs' life, and the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations.
Diana begins by talking about her early love for photography. She used to take many pictures as a child and had a darkroom in the basement to process her film. A friend offered to do a photography business with her, and she started earning as a freelance photographer. A friend referred her to a job at The Washington Monthly, getting credentials to photograph in the White House. As she built her portfolio, more opportunities came. Eventually, she was hired by Time Magazine to take photos side-by-side with Rosalynn Carter, the first lady to former president Jimmy Carter, during her trips, most notably in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge took over. One of her iconic photos was of the late Queen Elizabeth giving a speech and then-president Ronald Reagan laughing behind her. She obtained it by taking note of the event schedule given to the press and borrowing a monopod from a San Francisco Chronicle journalist after fumbling to assemble hers. The challenge of camera technology in the '80s was getting the right shot without having the chance to check if you really got it and exposing it correctly. Her image of Walter Mondale speaking to the press gained attention for showing "why he wasn't leading the polls."
In today's episode, Willy welcomes Dr. Peter Linneman. He is the principal of Linneman Associates, KL, Realty, and American Land Fund. He is cited as one of the 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate by Realtor Magazine and one of the 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real estate by the New York Observer. He is a highly sought-after speaker and author with his quarterly research, The Linneman Letter.
Willy begins by citing a quote from The Linneman Letter, “The increases in interest rates to date will enhance economic growth, not cause a recession.” Dr. Linneman says, “of course.” He mentions that valuable things shouldn’t have zero price if the goal is maximizing resource efficiency. Interest rates going up to a certain point give a better signal of where money should flow. And that will enhance economic output. It is not where interest rates are; it’s the journey.
Willy welcomes Mike Allen. He is a journalist, co-founder, and executive director of Axios, a news source that delivers brief and efficient takes on current events, politics, media, and tech. He also co-founded POLITICO, where he wrote his first newsletter, the POLITICO Playbook. He has previously written for Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Along with Jim VandeHei and Roy Schwartz, he has written Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less.
Mike Allen begins by explaining what makes Axios different from traditional media and talking about how "the longer the story, the better chance to get on the front page of the section," which incentives traditional journalists to write verbosely. The first two words of the Axios manifesto are "audience first." This experience inspired Mike Allen and his co-authors to promote smart Brevity to "communicate more efficiently, crisply, and be heard through this crazy fog of words that comes at all of us." With his first newsletter, Mike learned the lesson of imagining that you're a human talking to another human while writing. This means avoiding overly extravagant words or phrases. He also suggests reading whatever you have written aloud so you can edit and avoid sounding like a robot. Mike describes how readers will only remember one thing from their work. The best course of action is to identify what that one thing is, hone it, and put it on top of your writing. He adds that it only takes 20 seconds for an average person to engage with an average piece of content. Mike adds that Axios was created to redesign a new experience for the news consumer. "For ninety-nine percent of content, an efficient experience is the best one," he adds. He gives an example of how one writer used bullet points to improve his emails to parents and how it significantly made it easier for them to remember. Mike also recommends thinking about the audience as you're writing, giving the example of priests delivering lengthy homilies that fail to drive home their key points. "Think of a sharp, memorable way to communicate it and say it," he says.
Axios emphasizes the message, "Brevity is confidence. Length is fear." Mike continues by saying how many people fake it in their careers by talking too much. "The long letter is easier to write because you haven't thought about it," he adds. Interestingly, his book, Smart Brevity, has only 28,000 words, the minimum required for a hardcover publication. He retells his experience applying smart Brevity to Jamie Dimon's letters and improving its readership to people beyond real estate and financing. Talking about "sharp communications equals sharp strategy," Mike describes how the human tendency to talk too much can take us out of getting a raise or a sale. He advises saying what you want and stopping there. Some customers might feel overwhelmed by a salesperson's information vomit, eventually walking out of a possible order.
Willy welcomes Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Peter Linneman. Dr. Michael Roizen is the Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. His books, RealAge and YOU: The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make you Healthier and Younger, has been translated into more than 44 languages and became #1 in the NY Times Bestsellers list. Dr. Peter Linneman is the principal of Linneman Associates, KL, Realty, and American Land Fund. He is a highly sought-after speaker and author, with his quarterly research, The Linneman Letter, the most respected publication in real estate for the past 11 years.
The podcast begins with Dr. Michael Roizen defining RealAge as "the actual age of your body as opposed to your calendar age." It is the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The critical factors to maintaining one's health and lowering one's RealAge are stress management (having a purpose and a posse), food choices (portion size and timing), physical activity, unforced errors, sleep and brain health, and supplements. He adds that creatine has been proven to decrease muscle mass loss for people over 65 and improves cognitive function. Around 18 supplements or small molecules have beneficial data. Dr. Peter Linneman takes over the conversation and emphasizes how much control we have over our destinies regardless of genetics. "We control 80% of our DNA settings," he says. This can be done through self-engineering. Dr. Roizen adds that exercise improves blood flow to the brain, prevents dementia, and turns on a new protein in your body that increases your hippocampal size. Whatever exercise you enjoy, as long as you stress a muscle, produces this protein. When comparing different types of exercises, Dr. Roizen says that some people benefit from cardio more than resistance training and vice versa. He adds that we should also consider jumping because it keeps our back disks lubricated, especially if you jump at times of the day when you lose mobility. He reminds everyone to consult a professional before doing it. He says that resistance training encourages muscles to be replaced with stronger ones the next day. Jumping also increases bone accretion and bone strength in one's hips and back.
Dr. Roizen lists the five foods that increase aging: simple sugars, added syrups, simple carbohydrates, processed and red meats, and egg yolks. He recommends eating earlier because we become more insulin-resistant later in the day. People who avoid these foods and practice these portions sleep better, have more energy and are not hungry at night. Dr. Linneman gave up red meat in 1983. "Not only do you feel better, but you live better," he says. He discusses "staying healthy until the cavalry gets there." He also emphasizes how we cannot afford as a society not to reboot. The more we take care of ourselves, the more years are added to our lives, and the larger the increase in productivity. "Ten years is a 25% increase in your productive output in life," he says. Dr. Roizen explains how exercise can change the bacteria inside us. Studies have also shown that living healthy lives can knock out bodily mechanisms that don't attack cancer cells. Jim Allison's extensive work has produced KEYTRUDA, the medicine we use today to combat malignant melanoma, with a 63% cure rate. Internally, we can also produce killer T cells that can fight viruses. The strongest thing that knocks out our immune system is stress, so Dr. Roizen recommends doing exercises that don't stress you out, taking multivitamins, and having a dedicated group of friends.
Willy welcomes Sean Foley. After graduating with an Arts degree and playing on his university’s golf team, his love for golf coaching came after watching David Leadbetter work with Nick Faldo on the range at the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Course in the 1990s. Now, he had coached the biggest names in golf, including Sean O’Hair, Hunter Mahan, Stephen Ames, and Tiger Woods. He has been the head coach for the Canadian Junior Golf Association since 2003 and teaches at Core Golf Junior Academy in Winter Garden, Florida. He is a member of the faculty of Revolution Golf, a company that markets golf instruction videos and related content.
The podcast begins with Sean sharing his experiences as a child constantly moving and his early experiences in golf. Moving back and forth between the US and Canada, he ended up working in the golf industry in Florida. “I think it’s harder for the world to sell you the normal nonsense when you’re well-traveled,” he says. He explains his philosophy on insecurity, which is something normal and wired in us and should be accepted instead of fighting against it. Sean credits his ability to maintain his identity as his way of staying strong even after letting go of friends and his environment due to moving. He talks about the difference between situation and circumstance. Stress is usually something we create within ourselves and something we can control. However, he believes that it is up to us to let go of what we don’t have control over. He continues to describe how our feelings are connected to old mental constructs, and we learn to assess and recognize them with age. “Frustration comes from what you think should be real at that moment is actually not real,” he says. He thinks positive mantras are pointless and that it’s better to combat negativity with breathing, sunlight, and exercise, a lesson his father taught him early on. He has always had a deep interest in learning from others. “When knowledge is passed on and goes through different experiences, it becomes wisdom,” he says. He drives home the importance of learning as a coach because it is easy to forget how learners feel while picking up something new. He continues to explain how mindfulness helps players realize that insecurity and a lack of confidence are fleeting. He encourages athletes and coaches to challenge belief systems and drill into strengths to improve on weaknesses.
In today's episode, Willy welcomes Carolyn Dewer. She founded and co-leads McKinsey's CEO excellence work, coaching many Fortune 100 CEOs to maximize their effectiveness. She works extensively with clients to drive organizational effectiveness at pivotal moments such as mergers, strategic shifts, and crises. She also leads large-scale performance improvement programs, integrating strategic, operational, and cultural initiatives.
In addition to her direct work with clients, Carolyn conducts ongoing research. Among her many articles are two of the most read McKinsey Quarterly Articles of all time, The CEO's role in leading transformation and The irrational side of change management. She has also authored two foundational publications, Performance Culture Imperative: A Hard-nosed Approach to the Soft Stuff and Breaking New Ground. She is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets that Distinguish the Best Leaders From The Rest.
The episode begins with Carolyn giving a brief insight into the CEOs she included in her book CEO Excellence. The outliers to her were the lesser-known but equally impressive leaders. Her inspiration for writing the book was McKinsey's landmark event, the Leadership Retreat, bringing together next-generation CEOs to learn from more experienced ones. She also wanted a clear answer to the question, "What does it mean to be a CEO?" CEOs included in the book had to have strong performance, a six-year tenure, and good reputational risk. Winning to an elite CEO looks different from the regular ones. One point is setting direction – being bold and reframing what winning looks like. She cites Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga recalibrating the company's focus from the credit card market to "killing cash." She also mentions Herbert Hainer of Adidas, bringing the brand back to its deep sense of purpose, creating the best products with science and technology. Another note-worthy CEO was Hubert Joly of Best Buy, shifting the focus on the customer experience and delivering value in-store that other stores can't do. He put into action the filter of four circles: what the world needs, what you're good at, what you're passionate about, and how you can make money. This philosophy can be used in any decision-making in one's career. Best Buy also allowed an on-site presence for brands like Apple and HP. An excellent CEO knows what you can do best, where you can add the most value in 24 hours, and where you can empower others instead of doing things yourself. The best CEOs have micro habits that propel them to the top. Aside from boldness and courage, it was also talent, culture, and design – treating the soft stuff as the hard stuff – and recognizing how they can help the directors and the board help them run the business. Mentioning Microsoft's Satya Nadella embodied the characteristics necessary for an excellent CEO, one of which is transparency. When asked why the CEO job is lonely, he said nobody underneath you could see what you can see, driving home the importance of letting others know about it. Chase's CEO Jamie Dimon dedicates an hour of his meeting to share what keeps him up at night about the company. Knowing which people on your board have expertise that can help you and be part of an extended partnership is vital.
Willy welcomes Mark Few. He is the Head Coach at Gonzaga University and was announced as an assistant coach for the 2022-2024 USA National Team. He served as an assistant coach for ten seasons before reaching the top position. Originally from Creswell, Oregon, Mark boasts of an extensive coaching career. He once worked as a head coach for the 2015 Pan American Men's Basketball team, an assistant coach for the gold medalist 2012 USA U18 National Team, and a court coach for the 2009 USA Men's U19 World Cup/World University Games Team Training Camp. He and his wife, Mercy, have four children, one of them currently playing and studying at Gonzaga University.
The podcast begins with Mark returning to his graduate assistant days at Gonzaga University. He describes it as an enriching experience, teaching weight training, basketball, and other sports, and encouraging people to watch the sports games. He took a coaching job and brought the team to the Elite Eight. "The cool thing about it was to see a group of guys who deserved it with all their hard work," he says. He describes it as "pure fun, unadulterated hoops with no pressure." However, the stakes have gotten higher as more is expected from him after that taste of success. He retells the culture shock of having more expectations than before and questioning his situation at that moment. What helped him most was knowing everybody in the program, from compliance to academics, he was able to manage the burden. In the end, his team won the tournament. He reminisces about the moment he became head coach. "It's nice to have the humility and peace to level you out a little bit," he says. He adds that two backbones drive everything they do in Gonzaga: team chemistry and team culture. He prioritizes strong relationships with players with the right amount of fear, "demanding without being demeaning." As a coach, he aims to have his players "play with the most confident they've ever had and still play with unbridled joy." He looks back, seeing Coach Nick Saban's style, thinking he would never want to be in a position where his players are terrified of him. He wants to harness his players' strengths and create an organized model with a common goal and a plan. He talks about Kevin Pangos as someone who loved "working on chemistry instead of just talking about it." He mentions that mental coaching isn't just saying "toughen up and work hard." Working with Travis Knight led them to spend 25-30% of the athletes' time in mental development with Personal Growth Mondays (PGMs) that aided in processing pressure, expectations, lack of confidence, and handling adversities and success.
Willy welcomes Charles Rivkin. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA). He leads the MPA’s global mission to advance and support the film, television, and streaming content industry. The MPA’s members currently include Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Drawing on almost 30 years of experience as a media executive and a leading U.S. diplomat, he advocates for policies that drive investment in film and television production, protect creative content, and open markets. He champions the economic and cultural power of film and television to communities around the world.
The episode begins with Charles talking about his father’s career as a US ambassador to Luxembourg and Senegal and his godfather, a US ambassador to France. Charles believes that public service is the highest calling, and the influence of his relatives encouraged him to serve in the State for 18 years. With a deep love for singing, Charles never thought of doing it professionally, but the hobby gave him a chance to travel around the world. “I love being surrounded by creative people, and that’s one of the reasons I pursued a career in the entertainment industry,” he says. He decided to get an MBA because he was always fascinated by his grandfather’s clothing business. “When you give somebody employment, you change their lives,” he says. He loves the idea of being a CEO, contributing to his community, and making a difference on the international stage. With his background in economics, he combined it with his love for entertainment. He thinks that media is an enormous source of power and cultural exchange and can be a source of good when used properly. The MPA is already 100 years old and represents the six largest companies in the world. He talks about working with Jim Henson and selling his company, his desire to play in a “creative world”, and how they preserved his legacy by monetizing his assets. He got involved in politics in 2003 as Barack Obama’s US Ambassador to France, having the chance to know him before his presidency. He shares about doing film showings in the residence as he thought that films were a unionizing force and a reflection of American society. He challenged his French counterparts to create movies about sensitive topics and uses the medium to break stereotypes.
Charles shares his experience being the first ambassador to jump out of an airplane with the US Army Golden Knights on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, overcoming his fear of heights. Referencing Top Gun, he has flown on an F-18 with a passionate and talented naval pilot. The first thing he did as he moved into the MPA was to bring Netflix on board. He clarifies that the MPA is not just about film but also includes TV and streaming. With the billions of dollars that Amazon and Apple spend on creating potentially award-winning content, he believes these giants will join the association soon. As gaming is also catching up, MPA is working together with Apple and Amazon to fight piracy, the one commonality they can agree on, and make entertainment a diverse and flexible force. “The walls are blurring,” he says. Doing trade deals with USMCA in Canada also enforces intellectual property protection online and brings content to markets that were unreachable in the past. He has a positive outlook towards reopening theaters, as Top Gun Maverick raked in a billion at the box office, and other smaller productions like Everything Everywhere All At Once made millions as well. “Moviegoing begets moviegoing. There’s a communal aspect that can never be replaced,” he says. The US government is also helping to reignite the movie industry to help blue-collar workers like electricians, plumbers, cashiers, and other employees.
Willy welcomes Keith Ferrazzi. He is an entrepreneur, a global thought leader in relational and collaborative sciences, a sought-after public speaker and coach, and the Chairman of Ferrazzi Greenlight, where he works to transform organizations with new behaviors that promote growth and shareholder value. In his successful 20-year career, he introduced co-elevation, a new transformational operating system that leads to exponential change and value. Previously the CMO of Deloitte and Starwood hotels, he is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Who’s Got Your Back, Never Eat Alone, and his latest book, Leading Without Authority. He writes for the Harvard Business Review, WSJ, Fast Company, Forbes Inc, Fortune, and other publications.
The podcast begins with Keith talking about his two introductions for a TEDx Talk and how people usually open up with their achievements to compensate for their insecurity. He brings up a friend, Zappos founder Tony Hsieh and how his humility and creativity showed in his work as an “evangelist of his mission.” He recalls meeting Donald Trump at a prestigious networking dinner at the Forbes Mansion and his parting words, “The number one driver of anybody’s success is insecurity.” As a father of foster children and noting that 80% of the US prison population are from foster care, he acknowledges how trauma and distrust fuels insecurity, something he deeply relates to as an openly gay man. “I’ve always wondered why some people, when faced with that kind of insecurity, collapse and become very small. Some of us become very big, grandiose, and overcoming. I got lucky in some regards and went in the latter,” he says. He reminisces his experience of wanting “rich kid” jobs back then, so he lived out of his car and ate once a day for $2 to afford to live in the city. “You will never fully eradicate your insecurities, fears, and abhorrent natural reactions,” he adds. But he encourages becoming more grounded and elevated to transform in life. As a young boy, he once worked at a golf course where his dad encouraged him to show up an hour early. The best golf player in that country club introduced him to her son and the then-governor of Pennsylvania, Dick Thornburgh, who then coached him into winning the National Speech Debate Tournament. He emphasizes the importance of two lessons: valuing the people opening doors for you and how nepotism isn’t always about family relations but cultivating relationships with people who bring you to success. He considers the foundation of an “elevating” relationship to be candor and accountability. He believes being “polite” is political and that terrible, pent-up frustrations will come out in passive-aggressive statements unless expressed respectfully. He shares that 50% of average Americans say that no one has their back, and 60% of that statistic is married.
In today's episode, Willy welcomes Jamie Lee Curtis. She is an actress, producer, director, inventor, and author. With an illustrious career spanning four decades, she has appeared in widely loved films, such as "Halloween," "Trading Places," "True Lies," "Knives Out," and A24's highest-grossing film to date, "Everything Everywhere All At Once." She has starred in numerous sitcoms, such as "Anything But Love," "The Heidi Chronicles," and "Scream Queens." She has written 13 children's books, narrated for Audible's "Letters From Camp," and is the host and producer of "Good Friend," an iHeartMedia podcast. She is an amateur photographer and an advocate for children, animals, and the environment. Happily married for 37 years to Christopher Guest, she now has two adult children.
The podcast begins with Jamie sharing her stepfather's influence on her when it comes to business. Bob Brandt was an ex-marine and a self-made businessman who taught Jamie the value of money and the greatest finance lesson of her life: "Save every penny you've ever made." She continues to talk about her mother, Janet Leigh, popularly known as Marion Crane from the cult-classic horror film "Psycho." She remembers her mother as someone who "came from nothing" and was discovered by Tom Cruise but goes out of her way to memorize the names of everyone around her and get to know them deeply – a trait that Jamie has emulated. Jamie's thoughts about social media revolved around it being a poison to the youth and how it should be "about standing for something." She wants to relate to others on both sides as "that's the goal of America." When it comes to comments, she advises, "Don't read the comments. Period. Say what you mean. Mean what you say. Don't say it mean. And get the f*** out." Working with her mother made her strive to honor her parents by doing her best in everything she was set to do. She uncovers a downside to fame as she says, "Fame doesn't disappear…. But what made you famous goes away," expressing her heartbreak over what her parents have experienced in showbiz.
Jamie attests to putting one foot out the door so that she can leave anytime if the limelight is not where she belongs anymore. She is grateful for staying relevant even in her sixties. She talks about the difference between earning TV money and movie money. She advises everyone to give their money away while they're still alive and use it to live life to the fullest. "I want to die fully alive… manifest my destiny so I can leave a little bit of goodness in the world before I go. She shares her experience working for Blumhouse for the "Halloween" movies, being "a final girl," and acting with fake blood in most of her films. She retells her fairy-tale-like experience of marrying Christopher Guest and the interesting aspects of filming kiss scenes. She touches on her latest movie, "Everything Everywhere All At Once," and how her friends thought it was "the worst movie they have ever seen." She adds that sitcom work is her favorite job and that James Cameron wrote "True Lies" with her in mind. She describes the director as someone who "can do every single job on a movie except acting, which is why actors love working for him." She developed a close friendship with Arnold Schwarzenegger on set and described the challenges of portraying Helen Tasker. She ends the show with a touching message: "The most important thing is who we are as human beings, with other human beings." Even in today's troubled times, she believes respect and humanity should come first above all else.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Behind the Scenes with Jamie Lee Curtis. ▶️
Willy welcomes Peter Linneman. He is the principal of Linneman Associates, KL, Realty, and American Land Fund. Having been a member of the Wharton School of Business’s faculty at the University of Pennsylvania for 32 years, he is the Albert Sussman Emeritus Professor of Real Estate, Finance, and Business Public Policy and is the co-founding editor of The Wharton Real Estate Review, publishing 80 articles. He is cited as one of the 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate by Realtor Magazine and one of the 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real estate by the New York Observer. He is a highly sought-after speaker and author, with his quarterly research, The Linneman Letter, the most respected publication in real estate for the past 11 years.
The Walker Webcast begins with Peter emphasizing inflation is transitory with supply lagging demand due to 23% of the workforce collecting unemployment insurance. Also, industrial output is only 3% in Q1. Expanding output would be profitable, but most companies are not following through. Oil prices would normalize when production increases. The US remains the largest producer of oil in the world, and the situation of $260 a barrel is unlikely because supply is predicted to adjust. Besides, the US exports weapons and food, which Southeast Asian countries will highly favor due to tensions with China. Peter advises giving the supply 3-4 years of adjustment. The Federal Reserve System would not have control over long-term interest rates as $5 trillion in cash is set aside. He describes how debt should not be the main concern but “getting your money’s worth” and continues to say how federal debt is largely misunderstood. The higher the debt is, the bigger the political problems are because debt is owed by US citizens individually, not the state.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — The Best Hour in CRE with Peter Linneman, Leading Economist, Former Wharton Professor. ▶️
Key Points In The Webcast: 00:35 Willy welcomes Peter Linneman 03:21 Inflation is transitory, and supply lags demand 08:02 Decrease in oil prices due to supply adjustment 10:33 The US posed to export more weapons, oil, and food 14:21 Why the Fed has no control over long-term interest rates 20:19 Peter’s opinion on national debt concerns 26:13 Significant growth exists despite COVID-19 32:06 Stress tests and fear holding banks back from lending 34:33 Lowering debt to cope with interest 38:14 The strength of the US dollar 41:20 Returning to office and productivity vs. profit 45:29 Generation gap and what inflation means in real estate 49:45 The trend of moving to coastal gateway cities 52:57 The economic state under Joe Biden
Willy welcomes Bill Haslam. He is the former two-term mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee and former two-term governor of Tennessee, reelected in 2014 with the largest victory margin of any gubernatorial election in Tennessee history. During his tenure, Tennessee became the fastest improving state in the country in K-12 education and the first state to provide free community college or technical school for all of its citizens. The state also added 475,000 net new jobs during his term. Haslam serves on the boards of Teach for America and Young Life and is a visiting professor of political science at Vanderbilt University. He is the author of Faithful Presence: The Promise and Peril of Faith in the Public Square. Bill is a graduate of Emory University. He and his wife of 40 years, Crissy, have three children and ten grandchildren.
The podcast begins with Bill sharing how he changed his mind about becoming a teacher and going to the seminary. His father advised him to work in the family company, Pilot Corporation, to hone his communication and business skills, which he found to be a more “interesting and challenging environment”. He is optimistic about the trajectory of the business despite pointing out America’s supply-and-demand issue. In the early days of internet retailing, he moved on to be the CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue, seeing it as a fresh and different challenge. The Friday Five, a peer support group he created with a lawyer, banker, salesman, and dentist, held weekly meetings and encouraged him to run for the Knoxville mayoral position. Bill explains how crucial it is to be surrounded by people who know you well before making life-changing decisions as they give the best advice. He continues to explain how Americans have forgotten the importance of governing and institutions to a public democracy due to extreme divisiveness. He urges everyone to support officials with a history of problem-solving. As a mayor, he emphasizes the significance of vulnerability that although it is uncomfortable, it allows him to examine himself in new ways.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Leading with Empathy with Bill Haslam, Former Governor of Tennessee. ▶️
Key Points In The Webcast: 01:00 Willy welcomes Bill Haslam 02:03 Joining the family business 04:24 Saks Fifth Avenue, the Friday Five, and Bill’s mayoral run 08:19 Why America’s governance is struggling and vulnerability as a mayor 11:57 How Bill’s business background helped his political career 14:51 The Affordable Care Act and getting the right answer 20:59 The problems in leadership and American politics then versus now 27:10 The solution to political divisiveness 33:21 Casting votes as a Christian and the search for truth 40:49 Balancing faith and logic to combat negativity 43:45 Thinking Biblically in politics 47:30 Separating policy and scripture and staying humble as a leader 53:50 The Cyntoia Brown case and the presidential race
In today’s episode, Willy welcomes Taylor Heinicke. He is the quarterback of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. Previously playing college football at Old Dominion University (ODU), he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent after the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and the St Louis Battle Hawks of the XFL.
The Walker Webcast begins with Taylor reminiscing about his early start at ODU, receiving the offer during his senior year, and committing to it immediately. He attributes his confidence and tenacity to his parents. Starting out disliking football, he gave it a chance and fell in love with the sport. He explains that back then, people associated football with South Georgia, and as someone from the North and of smaller stature, it became a chip on his shoulder and proved his talent and skills. He describes playing in high school and college as not having much difference, but only when moving up levels are the players much stronger and smarter. It pushes him “to be good all the time, not just some of the time”. He retells his comeback as a “bizarre game” but “was a lot of fun” as he threw for 730 yards, five touchdowns, ran for another 60, and another touchdown. His collegiate injuries included a concussion and an AC joint separation, but he never missed any games in his career. In his mind, he believed he had to “grind through it”. He mentions coach Scott Turner of Minnesota as someone who showed interest in him early on, keeping him on the team.
Taylor retells meeting Tom Brady during his stint with the Patriots. “He’s already in there with a coffee in his hand,” Taylor says, “I got to kind of pick his brain and be around him… which was a really cool experience.” Debuting in the NFL on Christmas Day was a surprise for Taylor as he was thrown into the team after T.J. Yates’ injury. He describes his feelings while playing on national television as an “Oh my God moment” but also blacking out and then getting into a state of focus. Despite a concussion, he moved to the Carolina Panthers, seeing it as “a second start,” where he learned from his previous mistakes and improved on them. COVID-19 halted most of Taylor’s activities, but he still continued to train in hopes of receiving a call.
In terms of signing contracts, when presented with one from the Redskins, Taylor would ensure terms were guaranteed, and his hard work would not go to waste. However, he would not base his excellent performance on bonuses and incentives alone.
In today’s Walker Webcast, Willy welcomes Adi Ignatius. As the Editor in Chief of the Harvard Business Review Group and the publisher of HBR Press, he oversees the editorial activities of HBR, HBR.org, and its book-publishing unit. Before getting onboard HBR in 2009, he was the #2 editor at TIME. Two books he edited, President Obama: The Path to the White House and Prisoner of the State: The Secret Diaries of Premier Zhao Ziyang, became New York Times’ Bestsellers. Living and working overseas, he previously worked as an editor of TIME’s Asian edition and Beijing Bureau Chief and Moscow Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal.
With HBR turning a century old in 2022, the publication aims to be credible and valuable, publishing the best ideas and research. From gathering ideas in their inbox to being more proactive, Adi explains that the editors strive to write about relevant topics while delivering long-form content. Their digital domain has garnered more attention as the physical copies took a setback. With their active Instagram presence, Adi says they want to “give people a nugget that has value then provide a link to go deeper,” providing an option to consume short pieces or in-depth research. He attributes their revenue success to their dedicated paying subscribers.
In today’s episode, Willy welcomes Governor Jared Polis. Before serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since 2009, his political experience spans from being a Colorado State Board of Education member to a United States representative from Colorado’s 2nd congressional district. He is an entrepreneur at heart, founding ProFlowers in 1998 and TechStars in 2006. As an openly gay man, he advocates for LGBTQ+ and racial equality in Colorado. He has committed to ensuring all Coloradans have the opportunity to pursue their dreams by opening schools for at-risk students and new students and starting nonprofits for war veterans.
The podcast begins with Governor Polis emphasizing “Colorado for All” and how people of all races and genders are the foundation of making the state“an amazing place.” His mother, Susan Polis Schutz, wrote Depression and Back, an integral influence on Governor Polis’ mental health policies. “We inherited an overly complicated and inefficient behavioral system…First days in the office, [I said] let’s fix this.” Reshaping the bureaucracy was a challenge, yet he believes that “getting things done at state-level is possible,” as he pushed for accountability and transparency. He proudly describes Colorado’s implementation of the red flag law, which allows families to temporarily confiscate guns from loved ones experiencing a mental health crisis. He supports universal background checks but points out a loophole: “You can drive an hour and a half to an open-air gun show in Wyoming and purchase a weapon without a background check.”
As an entrepreneur, he enjoys how the private sector is always innovating but also finds the public sector fulfilling as it gives him a chance to improve people’s quality of life. With the previous governor, John Hickenlooper’s entrepreneurial background, Colorado has become a startup-friendly state, eliminating the costs of opening a business. Colorado's ranching and farming communities are fundamental to its economic growth, so Governor Polis prioritizes rural-urban unity. He continues to empower the agricultural technology sector with new practices and equipment as the state also depends on outdoor recreation. Governor Polis opposes buy-and-dry efforts and pushes for water conservation. In terms of natural disasters, Colorado has improved its rapid response and additional mitigation after experiencing three large wildfires in 2020. Governor Polis wants to create a better outdoor lifestyle experience, initiating the revitalization of main streets post-pandemic. Colorado aims to be 100% renewable energy by 2040.
As COVID-19 infection numbers are dwindling, Governor Polis has stayed in the middle ground regarding wearing masks and lockdowns, giving people the freedom of choice. He focuses on reducing health care and pharma costs with a reinsurance program and talks with the FDA. With the positive effects of the cannabis industry, the Safe Banking Act aims to allow financial services even with businesses outside of state laws. Forbes ranked Colorado Springs and Boulder in the top five of the 100 Best Cities in America, increasing the volume of people moving into the state and driving housing affordability concerns. Governor Polis’ solution is to build more infrastructure to avoid disrupting the quality of life. His superb intellect fuels his desire to surround himself and delegate creative people to his side. He expresses no interest in running for national office due to his fiery passion for protecting Colorado’s urban and rural landscape for the newer generations to come.
In today’s episode, Willy welcomes John Hope Bryant. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation Hope, a nonprofit aiming to empower the youth and adults with financial literacy and economic education. He is the CEO of Bryant Group Ventures and The Promise Homes Company, the largest for-profit minority-owned single-family rental home operator in the United States. He retells his humble beginnings as an African-American entrepreneur in his bestselling books on economics and leadership, such as How the Poor Can Save Capitalism and Up from Nothing. Named the 2016 Innovator of the Year by American Banker magazine, he is currently the first entrepreneur scholar in residence at Clark Atlanta University.
The podcast begins with John emphasizing the importance of energy and relationships in every aspect of our lives. He narrates his childhood of finding out his genius IQ score but never internalizing it as he continued to hustle his way to success. He attributes his self-esteem to his mom’s unwavering expression of love as he believes that achievements are not “so much about being smart but are about being resilient.” He shares a story about Mike Maples, Jr. to drive home the point of having a winning mentality. “You don’t create a business to sell to Disney, but to buy Disney,” Mike Maples, Sr. said. John also highlights the significance of creating an environment of positive role models for children. “Brilliance is transferable everywhere,” he says.
After a period of working in the entertainment business, John proceeded to do banking and finance. He believes capitalism can be a force for transformational change. With the privilege of education and setting up a candy shop, John realized his entrepreneurial dream and desire to give back to his community. “The color should not be red, blue, black, or white – but how do we all get some green… My calling is to unleash the untapped potential of the bottom of the pyramid.” He points out that the solution to poverty isn’t to distribute wealth but to teach others how to create it. He calls for giving children the incentive to study by teaching business creation and computing and providing internships. In the Great Resignation, more small businesses emerged since 2004, and 38% were owned by Black women.
John has mastered the art of developing long-standing relationships with his deep heart for people. “You’ve got to live with something larger and more important than yourself.” He has also tapped into his intuition in his decision-making process as he thinks it’s “God speaking to you through you.” He practices treating everyone equally and being open to different perspectives – be it Republican, Democratic, poverty, wealth, local, or global. Upon talking to his pastor, the notable piece of advice he received was, “Take your business skills… and build wealth and opportunity in our neighborhoods.” Greed predisposes most people to financial failure, and he urges companies to offer financial coaching to their employees.
On his journey to becoming an inspirational leader, he credits it to his ability to manage failure. He calls out to the United States to focus on building rather than thinking of what divides us. Love should be prioritized above all else as it is “the only self-renewing energy on the planet.” He sends a message to private-sector leaders to be a beacon of hope for inclusion and diversity.
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In today’s episode, Willy welcomes Thomas Daniels. Previously a managing director and senior banker for investment banking recruiting at JPMorgan, Thomas is motivated to “discover and develop talent for a better future.” As a senior director and partner at Spencer Stuart, he has served on the firm’s audit and risk and cybersecurity committees and worked on executive search, succession planning, executive assessment, and board assignments for large multinationals, midcap private equity, and asset management firms. He is a speaker and panelist and has contributed to several articles, such as “Recruiting the Next Generation of Financial Experts to Boards” and “Lessons and Advice for Today’s CFO”.
The podcast begins with Thomas explaining how the Great Resignation has impacted Spencer Stuart. Although negative on the surface, he believes there is “more liquidity than ever in human capital markets,” as Gen Z and millennial employees are upskilling and more concerned with work-life balance. To retain top talent, enlightened companies are proactive in getting people engaged and prioritizing a culture of purpose, mentorship, and recognition. Despite the surge of remote meetings, more people are moving across states for greener career pastures.
Spencer Stuart experienced a 19% surge of board meetings in 2021, which Thomas connects to unprecedented issues caused by the pandemic. The hybrid model has expanded the firm’s pool of potential directors. As 70% of CEOs in the S&P 500 had no prior C-level experience, the criteria for effective CEOs have shifted from an extensive background experience to self-awareness and thinking agility. Thomas enumerates the firm’s methods for spotting the outstanding ones: deep dive assessments, off-channel references, and executive intelligence interviews. Culture is another major piece in finding the most exceptional talents, as Thomas explains, “They want someone who’s a little bit different from the culture, which will create a little bit more edge… So it’s really about being aligned with the values, being compatible with the culture, and letting the culture adjust.”
Only the market can determine if CEOs are overpaid, says Thomas. Whether Elon Musk fails in his short-term endeavors, it is up to shareholders to decide whether performance-based metrics should be established. The best CEOs in the world hold an average tenure of 15 years, in comparison to the U.S.’s average of 7 years. Leadership styles continue to evolve in the volatile landscape of voluntary departures, political divisiveness, and COVID-19 recovery. Thomas emphasizes that for all leaders in any organization size, “The most important thing right now is having the strategic skills but also creating an environment where everyone is collaboratively working together… leading by example and showing that you can play well in the sandbox with others.” Thomas describes the signs of a competent CFO as having addressed unexpected adverse economic situations and being tech-savvy.
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In today’s episode, Willy welcomes Michael Bennet. Holding public office as the U.S. Senator for Colorado since 2009, Michael is driven by “an obligation to create more opportunity for the next generation.” He has built a strong reputation as a source of pragmatic and independent thinking, uniting Democrats and Republicans in tackling the country’s toughest issues, such as early childhood education, climate change, healthcare, and national security. His unfailing heart for service began even before his senatorial stint, helping to restructure failed businesses and creating the world’s largest movie theater chain, AMC.
Starting off, Willy asks Michael about the reasons behind his career choice as a politician. Michael expresses gratitude to have contributed to Denver Public Schools as a superintendent, describing his past work experiences have widened his perspective on business and service. Being born in New Delhi, he disbelieves it to be a hurdle in his 2019 presidential campaign. He fondly talks about his father, Douglas J. Bennet, and his term as an editor for Yale Law Review, describing it as “the most luxurious three years of his life.” Michael then retells his experience working with Dick Celeste and how he reached the conclusion, “I wasn’t put on this earth to practice law. I just didn’t enjoy it.” He continues his journey by buying up Regal Cinemas, creating the largest motion picture exhibitor in the world.
Michael reminisces on the day he was sworn in as senator, describing how former Colorado governor Ben Ritter made the historical appointment possible. He characterizes Colorado as “a crucible of American politics” as he relentlessly strives to protect the honor of Ritter’s decision. Michael remains firm on his stance on exerting more efforts on climate change and how the West is suffering from a water shortage. “One of my great frustrations is that we’ve done a terrible job,” he says. Another pressing issue is the negative effects of inflation on the current U.S. economy as the average American citizen works tirelessly yet is still unable to afford housing, healthcare, and education. He urges the market to consider onshore manufacturing to maintain ethically-run supply chains.
As one of the powerful forces behind the Build Back Better Act, Michael laments that “it’s going to be very hard to get it over to the finish line.” He also provides his two cents on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, stating it as solid proof that democracy will always win over totalitarianism. He believes underestimating the Ukrainian people was a huge mistake on Putin’s part and that balance in leadership is needed to figure out the best strategy for overcoming nationwide attacks. As a qualified lawyer, Michael gives his perspective on the Roe v. Wade leak and the importance of voting for people who believe in women’s rights and are pro-choice.
Even as a gun owner himself, Michael supports the move for universal background checks in connection to Colorado’s dark history with gun violence. Despite this, he voted against Dianne Feinstein’s legislation as he believed it was “an obsolete approach.” For the 2024 presidential elections, Michael predicts Joe Biden and Donald Trump running once again. Willy and Michael end the episode with Michael looking back on his viral speech on the Senate floor in 2013, speaking against Ted Cruz’s call for a government shutdown.
Tune in to this new episode of the Driven by Insight — Next Steps for Democracy with Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado.
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In today’s episode, Willy welcomes Lotfi Karoui. Lotfi joined Goldman Sachs in 2007 and was promoted to managing director in 2015. Currently, he is the Chief Credit Strategist and head of the Credit Research Group at Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s leading investment banking, securities, and management firms. His research covers a wide span of topics, including income markets, interest rate models, and macro-finance. His work is published in various academic journals, including the Journal of Financial Economics, Management Science, the Journal of Derivatives, and the Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control.
To start, Willy asks Lotfi about Paul Tudor Jones’ opinion in a recent CNBC interview, in which he stated, “You don’t want to be in bonds or stocks right now. I can’t think of a worse macro-environment...” Lotfi points out the paradigm shift of the newfound ability for investors to park their cash, decreasing the urgency of putting money in bonds and stocks. The built-up risk premium also becomes a factor, citing widened corporate bond spreads as an example. Lotfi continues to explain that “anything that has a little bit of duration risk has probably its worst start ever,” encompassing investment-grade and treasury bonds. The terminal value of the fed funds rate is set to peak at 3%, which coincides with Goldman Sachs view of the ideal target to dip one’s toes into bonds.
Lotfi noticed a significant trend in the past five economic declines: The slope of the yield curve has done a fantastic job at predicting future recessions. However, he enumerates two caveats – correlation is not entirely causation, and the current cycle has proven to be more nuanced since the onset of the Great Moderation in the early eighties. He also emphasizes the imbalance in the labor market, with the federal government slowing down the economy without pressuring businesses to lay off employees. He presents his definition of a soft landing in terms of the ongoing inflation and status of the employment market and rates – the slowing down of the economy below potential while avoiding recession that causes companies to overreact. He states that the odds of a recession happening over the next two years are 35%.
As gas prices are climbing, Lotfi highlights that demand destruction is the only way to rebalance the energy market instead of shrinking the demand side of the equation. He compares the effects of oil shocks on the United States and the European markets. The US economy is protected from the negative consequences due to a meaningful offset. Whereas Europe, they heavily rely on Russia to import their commodities. Lofti defines the current cycles as unpredictable and having more complex qualities. While the credit cycle is fairly young, the general business cycle is far ahead in its lifetime, making it impossible to tell if it is currently in recovery.
Regarding inflated housing prices, Lotfi says the average monthly mortgage payment in the U.S. has increased by 41% in 2022. This is largely caused by tight inventories and real estate companies building fewer structures than needed.
The episode ends with Lotfi’s interpretation of why companies are choosing to hire local talent rather than investing in foreign labor. The slowdown of globalization to regionalization has resulted from varied factors, such as the COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The pandemic has brought to light previously hidden weaknesses in how companies manage their supply chains. This connects to the urgency and significance of implementing ESG programs as consumers and employees are more socially vocal. Lotfi’s predictions on the future of the credit market are fairly optimistic, suggesting considering risk and price of risk, de-escalating conflict, and a reversion in inflation.
Power is in the hands of the ones with cash – that’s the general prediction of the corporate real estate market moving forward post-pandemic. With multi-family companies throwing money at more rental housing and inflation numbers at an all-time high, the future is uncertain as consumers struggle to afford a place to live. Research and Securities Executive VP Ivy Zelman, Investment and Sales Executive VP Kris Mikkelsen, Capital Markets Senior Managing Director Aaron Appel join Willy Walker on this week’s Walker Webcast as they dissect the current condition of the corporate real estate industry, why money is king, the probability of a soft landing versus a hard landing, and their thoughts on the best areas to invest in right now. Ivy Zelman sheds light on how rentals are unsustainable as more capital is flowing into the space, and a backlog of properties without leases exists. She also points out the disconnect between buyers’ willingness to pay and sellers’ expectations. Kris Mikkelsen lays out where he would put on his dollars – capital assets where rates can be reset and capital in markets with strong growth fundamentals and low risk. He emphasizes a lower leverage point and the ever-changing cost of homeownership in the past three months. Aaron Appel believes the future of CRE isn’t completely bleak, as time and time again, we’ve witnessed the market adjusting when there’s enough distress. But with the country’s escalating debt, inflation comes as a result of working to overcome it.
Tune in to this new episode of Driven By Insight — CRE State of the Union with Ivy Zelman, Kris Mikkelsen, and Aaron Appel.
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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said, “Finding a way to ensure that the advent of digital superintelligence is symbiotic with humanity is the single biggest existential crisis we face.”
This quote encapsulates Mo Gawdat’s views and opinions in his best-selling book, Scary Smart, a roadmap detailing and predicting how AI can inevitably take over the human race.
Mo Gawdat joins Willy Walker on this week’s Walker Webcast as he breaks down the evolution of AI, humanity’s cognitive limitations in controlling AI’s rapid growth, his biggest fears for the future of AI, its use in war and prevention in future disasters like COVID-19, and our responsibility as users in teaching AI to have “our best interests in mind”.
Mo Gawdat describes AI not as machines but as “digital beings with experiences, fears, consciousness, and emotions”, capable of deep learning. He likens them to infants, absorbing every piece of knowledge being fed. “The more data you give them, the more they can see and observe patterns,” he adds.
He emphasizes humanity’s refusal to take accountability in raising these “artificially intelligent children”, waiting for the government to control the inescapable doom of them disrupting our lifestyles, economies, political landscapes, and overall welfare.
Mo Gawdat continues to warn us of the machine’s ability to sway public reasoning and opinions through social media algorithms.
“They’re doing that in billions of recommendations every day…and then you start to realize that we are already in a place where we’re dominated. We’re already being told by the machines what to do.”
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — The Future of AI with Mo Gawdat, Author of Scary Smart and Former Google X Executive.
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There’s never been a better time for women leaders than now. That’s what Mary Callahan Erdoes believes as the opportunity for remote and online work has provided the flexibility for family time and career growth.
As the CEO of J.P. Morgan’s Asset and Wealth Management, she has brought one of the largest and most reliable investment banks to $4 trillion in client assets. Philanthropy is also close to her heart as she serves as a board member of New York City’s Robin Hood Foundation.
Mary Callahan Erdoes joins Willy Walker on this week’s Walker Webcast as she gives her two cents on the unpredictability of the global market, her advice on investing in cryptocurrency, how more competition keeps the economy booming, and her close working ties with CEO Jamie Dimon.
She emphasizes appreciating and recognizing both one’s milestones and empty tombstones – as any downturn is a chance to reevaluate methods and strategies. This optimistic outlook has set J.P. Morgan to be ready in handling any catastrophic situation.
“Our job is to always prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” she adds. “If you do it the other way around, you’re going to get yourself in big trouble. That’s how we’re wired.”
Diversity and inclusion have always been a priority for Mary Callahan Erdoes. J.P. Morgan’s efforts in investing in low-income housing and more poverty-stricken areas and opening doors to recruiting a wide slate of talent prove their stance on making a bigger difference in today’s work culture and society.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — How to Manage $4 Trillion with Mary Callahan Erdoes, J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management CEO.
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Musician Keith Richards once said, “I’ve imagined it all. I just didn’t think it would happen.” It’s a quote that sums up Amor Towles’ feelings after the unforeseen success of his work.
Being a New York Times’ Best-Selling Author of three noteworthy novels, Amor Towles has also juggled being a professional banker with family members in the finance space and a tennis player to further cultivate his creative juices.
Amor Towles joins Willy Walker on this week’s Walker Webcast as they flip the pages of his childhood love for fiction, how novels are writer’s symphonies, his profound interest in Russian literature, and why the need to be historically accurate should come second in the writing process.
He attributes the refinement of his books to the caring attention and assessment of his wife, his fiction-loving friends, his agent, his editor, and his adoring readers who are never afraid to point out any logical oversight in his stories.
A thesaurus definitely isn’t handy nor useful - as much as most people would believe. For Amor Towles, it’s impossible to draw out the multi-dimensionality of a character with the reliance on outside resources.
“I have to trust what sounds right to my ear,” he says. “The vocabulary has sprung in a way from my sense of their [the character’s] personality and upbringing. What would they say? What would sound right to them?”
Guesting on Late Night with Seth Meyers was a humbling opportunity as the host was an enthusiastic fan of his work. The appearance opened the door for Amor Towles’ to fulfill what he truly set out to do.
“The biggest satisfaction is knowing that the book is finding an audience, resonating with people, and has made an impact in their lives in some interesting way,” he adds.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Penning a Best-Seller with Amor Towles, New York Best-Selling Author.
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Leading Economist and former Wharton Professor Dr. Peter Linneman is optimistic about the U.S. economy, although not every moment. With a divided Congress, the war in Ukraine, rising interest rates, and skyrocketing oil prices amid an ongoing pandemic, Dr. Linneman shares his quarterly predictions and provides insights to help you understand what's to come.
Dr. Linneman presents the most prescient analysis, and he cites that before things got so hard, nobody could have guessed in February 2020 that the GDP could still grow by 3.5%. He considers it staggering and the main point. "We've undergrown, and we have potential just to catch up and then have normal growth. So I think that that's what's going to happen now over the next few years."
Dr. Linneman mentions that a devastating variant of the virus can change anything, but the biggest wildcard he considers would stop the left to right upward kind of recovery is price controls. "I remember in 1971 when Nixon, a Republican, put in wage and price controls, and I remember the disaster that ensued. And yet, the U.S. economy grew over the five years, but it was a mess. It was an absolute mess because it's like fooling Mother Nature, right? Once you do this price, there's a knock-on effect on another. That's what we found out during the shutdown. You shut down one thing, but you also shut down many other things. So the biggest risk to the recovery is not interest rates, it's not inflation, it's wage and price controls."
The leading economist adds that looking at the real factors matter. Over two years, real GDP, a crude measure of demand in the economy, has been up 3.5%. Industrial output, a crude measure of industrial goods capacity, is down 1% and employment, a crude measure of service sector supply down 1%, and demand's up 3.5%.
Willy and Dr. Linneman cover how to bridge the gap as new government policies create an imbalance between the carbon economy and a green economy, pushing into renewables when there is still the demand for fossil fuels while exploration and refining companies are not investing anymore.
In the world of CRE, Dr. Linneman cites things to consider when you're considering an investment in 2022. You have to look at the relative demand growth versus supply. "Generally over a three to five year period, supply and demand are going to grow about the same. If you're a developer, you want to be where demands grow because you're in the business of servicing growth with your fees and creating products and so forth. If you're an investor, you care about supply and demand. So the red hot cities are certainly industrial, people are looking at them pretty attractively for investing, and in the red hot cities, they're looking at them, certainly from multifamily. The cold cities are starting to get a relook."
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast - The Best Hour in CRE with Dr. Peter Linneman
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He's on top of his game and has perfected how to invest in success. He is Tope Lawani — the pride of Nigeria who has earned his MIT and Harvard education and is now making waves across the globe as a private equity pioneer. His firm, Helios Investment Partners, is Africa's largest private equity firm, focusing on technology, infrastructure, and sustainability.
This special episode of the #WalkerWebcast is an inspiring discussion between Willy and his Harvard Business School classmate. They cover the makings of investing in the world's fastest-growing continent, how advanced digital payment platforms are allowing African nations to leapfrog parts of the western world, and how private capital has created economic and social value throughout the African continent.
Tope tells his origin story, which seemed perfect for his immense contributions today. When he was younger, he lived essentially on campus with close to 100 nationalities. Surrounding his home are neighbors from Taiwan, Israel, Korea, Jamaica, Sierra Leone and people he has learned and interacted with from almost all parts of the world. "I grew up in an extremely multicultural environment. From the get-go, I was always comfortable with everyone coming from different backgrounds. I went to school with the kids from all strata of society. They were children of the president, the vice president, all the heads of the armed forces. But equally, a decent percentage of my school kids were probably the first kids in their entire family history ever to go to school. They turn up to school with all their belongings in a sack of rice." Tope adds that his unusual childhood can be difficult to replicate.
Working for TPG Capital from 1996 to 2004 has taught Tope to be creative, entrepreneurial, hard-working and empowered. He later moved on and started his own firm, Helios. Raising that first fund exclusively focused on Africa wasn't a walk in the park. "There was some benefit of just naivete, which helped to be honest, because I think a first time fund in a pretty niche market is either impossible or it's easy. There's no such thing as it's in the middle. It's either just it won't happen, or you might stumble into some blind luck, and then it happens."
From telecom towers, undersea cables, oil and gas, fintech and more — there's so many to start for Tope where everything he touches seems to turn to gold. His company Helios was named the Firm of the Year for Africa by Private Equity International after winning it in the past consecutive years since 2016. It's amazing how substantial the capital they've raised for infrastructure investments. "There are many great things, and I think better about investing in Africa. We've pioneered and have been first in discovering many things. The economic infrastructure needs to exist at some point, and we have to build it now as opposed to buying it."
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Invest In Success with Tope Lawani, Co-Founder & CEO of Helios Investment Partners
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A special WalkerWebcast comes your way as big powerhouses come to share a wealth of experience and industry insights combined in the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Conference!
Join this conversation with friends, former chairpersons and incredibly successful entrepreneurs and leaders in the multifamily industry:
Doug Bibby, President of NMHC Daryl J Carter Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Avanath Capital Management, LLC, a California-based investment firm that specializes in affordable and workforce communities David Schwartz, CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Waterton, a real estate investment and property management company specializing in multifamily, senior living, and hospitality Susan Ansel, President and CEO of Gables Residential, a private REIT focused on development, acquisition, and management of multifamily communities
Willy Walker engages these industry greats as they share their reflections on NMHC. As a national organization with more than 1,700 members that has been promoting and advocating for the multifamily industry since 2001. Doug Bibby shares that his sole cause in his successful run of the NMHC was putting people in homes. "That was always a motivator for me. We're putting a roof over people's heads, we're not polluting the environment, and we're not doing bad things. We're actually helping people achieve their dreams."
Willie asks Doug to share how he took the rest of his executive team and turned Fannie Mae from being a huge liability to the taxpayers, becoming one of the truly great corporations in America. "We have reinvented what was essentially a government bureaucracy, with 20% of the employees who were civil servants, and there was one product line. It was a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. There were no arms, no multifamily, no embassy. And we were able to reinvent everything." He brought his 16-year experience and excitement to his role at NMHC.
Daryl Carter acknowledges the values that Doug had that were instrumental in positively shaping the industry, one in which to accommodate more institutional capital. Starting Waterton in 1995 shows a big difference in scale level and the types of funds they're raising with the whole process transforming materially.
Sue Ansel attributes her involvement with NMHC as very helpful to her growth. As CEO of a major real estate corporation and chairwoman of NHMC, the experience of picking the brains of impactful executives in other large organizations affects her own leadership. "Those are some of the really unique opportunities that we get in these roles and a huge chance of a lifetime."
David Schwartz enumerates the highlights of being NMHC chairman growing in servant leadership, emotional intelligence, authenticity, and trust. He covers how being underbuilt as an industry puts us behind for over a decade that we're just not building enough housing, resulting in this rent inflation.
Daryl Carter is all praises for the culture that has been built at NMHC. There may have been "a lot of work, but also a lot of joy". One of the interesting things is the relationships between the people who work like brothers and sisters, serve in the industry and fight for the common goal of house affordability. As chairman, he cites the advancement in prioritizing inclusion in the industry and seeing talent and opportunity in all shapes and forms. "I think we've made a lot of progress, but we have a long way to go, but we're moving there. You have to be an optimist in this business."
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Expert Insights on NMHC and the Multifamily Industry.
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You are selling every day — whether you realize it or not. Whether you're a CEO or a stay at home mom, you have to sell your ideas to people. What matters first is asking yourself, have you bought into your vision for yourself, your life, and your business? Legendary sales coach Jack Daly shares that many people perish without achieving their purpose because they lack direction tied to one's priorities and values.
In this new episode, Jack joins Willy to explore the crucial lessons he learned in a 30-year career in sales and as an executive by building six companies into national platforms, developing proven systems and processes to grow revenue and profitability and building a winning company culture. On top of his incredible career – he's accomplished numerous personal feats only a few can match: playing the top 100 golf courses, competing in over 93 marathons and more.
Willy opens the conversation by sharing how listening to Jack speak in 2007 changed the trajectory of Walker and Dunlop. "There were two things that you said in that presentation that stuck with me: the first one you said was, 'if you have a vision for your company, you need to make sure that everybody in your company aligns with that vision. And if you have anybody who doesn't align with that vision, they can't be on your team because they are cancer inside your organization.' The other one, which was, I would say, the most impactful thing I have ever been told was if you aren't answering that question 'Where are we going?' for your team every single day, you are failing as a CEO."
Willy asks Jack why implementing strategies like the money bag, and handwritten notes will never go out of style. Jack's book The Sales Playbook covers the story of how he made millions of dollars by building relationships over the years. Another book, Hyper Sales Growth, teaches the importance of systems and processes in the sales side of the house and connects to the analogy he gave on why "sports teams run better than most businesses."
His new book Life By Design tells Jack's own success of living his life to the fullest, creating goals each year to help achieve everything on his long bucket list. With meticulous care, Jack plans, tracks, and compares key metrics of his travel, health, and personal aspirations to control performance and hold himself accountable.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Selling Smarter, Not Harder with Jack Daly, Professional Sales Coach.
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Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is determined to bridge the political divide. As one of only two Republican governors to be re-elected for a second term in Maryland's 242-year history, Governor Hogan is creating change and “making the most out of every day.”
On this new episode of the Walker Webcast, Willy and Governor Hogan explore an engaging conversation on the state of politics in America, the future of the Republican Party, leadership during Covid-19, the importance of integrity, and his battle with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Willy opens the conversation asking if Governor Hogan ever considered following in his father's footsteps, Congressman Larry Hogan, Sr., a lawyer turned FBI agent turned politician. The governor shares he wanted to be a basketball coach when he was younger and is a late bloomer in politics. He cites his father's most important lessons on integrity and public service. Hogan Sr. was the first Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee to call for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. He showed independence as a political leader, putting the country above the party and insisted on a fair and transparent process. The younger Hogan embodies these in his brand of politics, recognized nationally as a strong, independent leader who consistently delivers real results and achieves common sense, bipartisan solutions.
Governor Hogan recalls the funny story of how he "rebelled" by supporting Ronald Reagan while his father was for Gerald Ford as a college kid. Governor Hogan looks to what the Reagan presidency stood for that guided him throughout his political career.
With how the government operates now, Willy asks what it's like to compare the state and national levels. Governor Hogan shares, "Most people in America want to elect leaders, regardless of their party affiliation that are willing to work together, to focus on solving problems. And unfortunately, that's not what's happening in Washington, where we're just at the state Capitol here in Annapolis, we're 30 miles down the road from the nation's capital, and we couldn't be more different, working together and getting things done on any number of issues."
Willy and Governor Hogan recall his first campaign in 2014. As a small businessman who had never held elective office, he ran with a small budget to address massive problems with lack of jobs, high taxes and the opioid crisis. "Nobody was even paying attention to our race as if we had no chance at all. But as I traveled around the state, I saw the struggling middle-class families were suffering, and small businesses were being hurt. We just went out with a grassroots campaign. I started a group called Change Maryland. I went all across the state just talking to people. We had very little funding. We weren't expected to win. It was a big shocker because I pulled off the biggest surprise upset in America in 2014."
Upon his election, Governor Larry Hogan shares his experience of finding out a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. "I was just on the way from the doctor to the governor's mansion. Remembering Tim McGraw's great song called "Live Like You're Dying", I decided to make the most out of every day."
As the President of the National Governors Association all through COVID, Hogan had no hesitation in saying what he thought and speaking out even if it was unpopular, particularly pointing out issues with former President Donald Trump. His term ends in January of 2023, and Willy asks if Governor Hogan hasn't ruled out running for President.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — The Future of Politics with Governor Larry Hogan, State of Maryland
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Brace yourselves. The future is gearing towards the Metaverse, cryptocurrency, and tech stock investing. Tom Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of the Motley Fool presents his insights on where these innovations will take us in 2022.
On this new episode of the #WalkerWebcast, Willy opens the conversation in establishing some truths and updates as we face inflation, rising interest rates, and increasing geopolitical tensions in today's market.
Willy and Tom explore the core tenets of investing and holding onto stocks for a minimum of five years or longer. Historically, the average person in an average situation is better off putting in more money in periods of volatility. “It’s better to step away and look at other things in your life if you’ve got a good game plan: adding money, diversification, and a long-term five-plus-year time horizon.” Tom chooses patience and recognizes metrics such as softer issues (corporate leadership, insider ownership, company culture, etc.) when selecting companies to bank on.
Though being methodical in decision-making brings benefit, Tom also lets go of the fear of taking risks. “I don’t have the luxury of sitting back and investing for ten years.” He also quotes Warren Buffet, “You get the investors you deserve.” For Tom, success boils down primarily to the leadership commitment to all stakeholders as only less than 10% of public companies like his deliver a decade of great results.
As the episode comes to a close, Tom shares his thoughts on Sin stocks and The Motley Fool's opinions on cryptocurrency. He states that there needs to be a grand debate on whether the benefits far outweigh the potential harm these new changes bring.
Tune in!
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We are on the verge of massive change where innovations in mobile, digital money and machine learning are changing how we move money and manage our finances. An expert on these technologies is Alex Rampell, who plays a significant role in building the future of financial services.
A General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, Alex also serves on the board of Branch, Brightside, Descript, Divvy, Earnin, FlyHomes, Loft, Mercury, PeerStreet, Point, Propel, Sentilink, Super Evil Mega Corp, Transferwise, and Very Good Security.
Alex additionally led the firm's investments in OpenDoor ($OPEN), Plaid, Quantopian (acquired by Robinhood), and Rival (acquired by LiveNation).
Prior to joining the firm, Alex co-founded multiple companies, including Affirm ($AFRM), which he co-founded with Max Levchin, FraudEliminator (acquired by McAfee in 2006), Point, TrialPay (acquired by Visa in 2015), TXN (acquired by Envestnest in 2019), and Yub (acquired by Coupons.com in 2013).
Join Willy Walker and Alex Rampell on this week's Walker Webcast as they explore the ins and outs of fintech, the right mindset in approaching investments, censorship-resistant technology, lessons from a dental software story, the future of financial services, and so much more.
Willy invites Alex to share his Andover boarding school experience, getting to Harvard and starting his little software business when students are prohibited from doing it from their dorm room. "It was a part-time thing, but I used to sell software on the internet in the 90s when this was not really a mainstream thing, which ironically made it much easier to do because you were not competing with millions of software developers around the world." From being an undergrad to jumping right into entrepreneurship, Alex attributes luck, common sense, and not being afraid to fail as his ingredients of starting a company in college and making his way to success.
Alex emphasizes the importance of empathy and a grounded understanding, especially in venture capitalism. He brings this mindset and experience to Andreessen Horowitz as an outstanding investor. He also uses an example of looking at the video of Tiger Woods as a kid hitting his 25-yard drive. "One can think, hey, I'm 40, I can hit a drive much further than that little kid, I'm much better than him." or "Wow if that kid keeps it up, he could win 15 majors in the future." In a venture mindset, you have to default to that latter category and realize that you're not looking at Baby Tiger Woods; you're looking at something that will not work. But you can't judge it on the present because it is an extraordinarily easy way to never really win."
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — FinTech and Venture Capital Alex Rampell, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz.
American business leader, bestselling author, and patriotic philanthropist David Rubenstein proves that if you can live your legacy, the greater your impact. In this special episode of the Walker Webcast, David and Willy share the screen to discuss how private is the private equity world, living a legacy and why he thinks he won't ever pick up golf!
Willy opens the conversation by introducing David with the remarks of Harvard University's Former President Drew Faust: "David Rubenstein's acumen in finance, his experience both in leading a complex organization and then serving as an institutional trustee, his capacious intellect and global outlook, his devotion to universities and to the arts and culture, and his capacity to inspire generosity in others, all promise to serve the corporation and the university well. He has served on a remarkable range of nonprofit boards, reflecting his equally remarkable span of interests — in higher education, the arts, public policy, medicine, international affairs and American history and culture."
This sums up David's remarkable undertakings and contributions. Harvard Corporation is the oldest corporation in the Western Hemisphere, chartered in 1650, of which David is a member despite not having gone to Harvard. Willy mentions how David has also been very supportive of his alma mater, Duke University, and contributing with a rare book library, the art center, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, the School of Public Policy, The Freeman Center for Jewish Life and more. David shares that his parents didn't have a high school and university education. He is grateful to have received scholarships to go to Duke and University Law School. He feels very indebted to them and repays what he can after achieving his massive success.
Willy poses how David finds the time and energy to be able to put energy in so many endeavors and as co-founder and co-chairman of the private equity firm The Carlyle Group. "I find organizations that I think are doing good jobs that I feel indebted to, and I want to stay involved with them if I feel they're doing a good thing for our country. Secondly, I don't play golf, which saves many hours and a lot of frustration. And then generally, I love doing this, so it's not work for me."
Willy explores common themes that David outlined in his book How To Lead. David shares that luck was a significant factor in finding his two co-founders of the Carlyle Group, William Conway Jr. and Daniel D'Aniello. The desire to succeed also led to starting small as an investment firm in the buyout area in Washington, and riding through a massive failure during the Great Recession made the company what it is now.
His philanthropy work makes up a considerable portion of David's life. He is an original signer of The Giving Pledge and continues to persuade people to give money for worthy causes and give away a huge chunk of his own net worth.
As a celebrated interviewer hosting The David Rubenstein Show and Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein, David was able to see the wisdom behind the successes of many accomplished entrepreneurs and game-changers and what cohort he discovered to seem to be the happiest or most content with their lives.
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It's never too late to return to an unfulfilled dream. Keira D'Amato tells the story of what it's like to leave the sport that she loved after sustaining an immobilizing foot injury.
On this latest Walker Webcast, host Willy and guest Keira discuss the incredible tale of how it's never late in life to do it all! In her late 30s, Keira started prioritizing her health. Unexpectedly, the little step she took turned out to be a huge turn towards qualifying for the Olympic Trials. She just pushed herself a little further and further and found herself hitting new records again and again.
She just kept saying: "What's the next goal? And the next? Let's keep going." Such incredible feats for a real estate agent, mother of two, and the fastest American woman to ever run a marathon – at age 37!
On January 16, Keira won the Chevron Houston Marathon at 2:19:12, beating the competition by over ten minutes and breaking the US marathon record set in 2006.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Going The Extra Mile With Keira D'Amato, Athlete & Record-Breaking Marathoner
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Check out our previous videos: » Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QkMqEzOkzNmWUe9kpfRJ4213jIh6LNk
How do you get the sales you need in today's ever-evolving landscape? Dr. Frank Cespedes graces the Walker Webcast to drop the essential sales strategies and techniques that you need to maintain a thriving and game-changing enterprise.
Frank's vast experience spans his work with many companies on go-to-market and strategy issues, and he has been a Board member at consumer goods, industrial products, and services firms. He teaches at Harvard Business School while serving as Managing Partner at a professional services firm for 12 years. He is the author of six books, including Aligning Strategy and Sales, which was cited as "the best sales book of the year" (Strategy & Business), "a must-read" (Gartner), and "perhaps the best sales book ever" (Forbes).
His newest book is Sales Management That Works: How to Sell in a World That Never Stops Changing. Willy opens the discussion on how the book covers the lessons on how Jack Welch, considered the greatest leader of his era who took GE from a billion dollars to 10 billion a year of yearly profits, had a horse race to decide his successor. Today finding sales talent is still the hard part for companies.
The conversation leads to why Frank emphasizes how CEOs should not only set the foundational conditions for business development in their company but never lose their connection with customers. "Once they become CEOs, the rest of the organization conspires to "protect" them against customers. As a result, they're often making decisions based on an obsolete vision of what's really going on out there. And that's been Frank’s experience that when companies fail in terms of tens and hundreds of billions in shareholder value, you just can't point to one person to take the blame. It's a variety of other factors."
This calls to discuss how sales have changed because of digital transformation. Willy cites one data point Frank brings up in his book: that people's impression of online media, online sales versus brick and mortar, is completely distorted. Numbers show that despite what many of us think, an Amazon and UPS-driven economy is "overhyped," "misunderstood", and can affect companies.
To drive the point further, Frank reminds us that the most important thing about sales now and in the future is always the buyer and not the seller. Auto sales is a good example of how the vast majority of buys that comprise 96% still occur in the dealership. This was confirmed during the pandemic as well.
Tune in to this new episode of the Walker Webcast — Getting The Sales You Need with Dr. Frank Cespedes, Harvard Business School Professor
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RELATED WEBCASTS: Tune in on Wednesdays for fresh perspectives about leadership, business, the economy, commercial real estate, and more! #WillyWalker hosts a diverse network of leaders as they share wisdom that cuts across industry lines.
We get up close and personal in an inspiring conversation with Australian Open commentator and four-time Grand Slam winner Jim Courier. He shares the backstory of choosing whether to pursue baseball or tennis at age 13, what it's like being friendly and competitive with fellow tennis legends, and the future he expects for upcoming American players.
Jim Courier reached the #1 world ranking, was a member of two winning United States Davis Cup teams and is one of sixteen men in the history of tennis to reach the finals of all four major championships. He is a member of the International Hall of Fame and proudly served as Captain of the United States Davis Cup Team from 2011-1018.
Jim remains active in the tennis world today, working in TV as an analyst at the premiere tennis events. He co-founded Courier’s Kids, which supports after school tennis programs, and InsideOut Sports & Entertainment, which has produced over 200 tennis tournaments and exhibitions since inception.
Jim resides in Los Angeles with his wife Susanna and their two sons.
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On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker is joined by Dr. Peter Linneman. For over 40 years, Dr. Linneman's unique blend of scholarly rigor and practical business insight has earned him accolades from around the world. He has studied under multiple Nobel Prize winners, holds both a Master's and Doctorate in Economics after a distinguished academic career at both The University of Chicago and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and was a leading member of Wharton's faculty, serving as the Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Finance, and Public Policy for 35 years. He has published over 100 scholarly articles, four editions of the acclaimed book, “Real Estate Finance and Investments: Risks and Opportunities,” and the widely-read Linneman Letter quarterly report.
Dr. Linneman’s long and ongoing business career is highlighted by his roles as Founding Principal of Linneman Associates, LLC, a leading real estate advisory firm; CEO of American Land Fund; and CEO of KL Realty. For more than 35 years he has advised leading corporations and has served on over 20 public and private boards, including serving as Chairman of Rockefeller Center Properties, where he led the successful restructuring and sale of Rockefeller Center in the mid-1990s.
This Walker Webcast is a highly anticipated episode as we open 2022 with Dr. Peter Linneman, who shares his thoughtful insights and projections that have been amazingly prescient. In this episode, we will deep dive into the reviews he shares in The Linneman Letter quarterly report, highlighting highly-discussed economic topics you should know in 2022.
Hear Dr. Linneman’s breakdown of his quarterly report in this segment of the Walker Webcast — The Best Hour in CRE with Dr. Peter Linneman, Founding Principal of Linneman Associates.
Key points covered in this episode:
[1:57] Willy welcomes Dr. Peter Linneman. What predictions did he hit and miss from 2020 to 2021? What predictions does he have moving forward?
[13:25] Dr. Linneman discusses how economic dynamism is missing in the marketplace.
[18:05] Willy and Dr. Linneman talk about how to get people back to work.
[19:58] Two enormous implications in real estate are mentioned: 2021 personal annual interest income and yield-starved consumers.
[23:45] Willy reads the Linneman letter on how banks are awash with liquidity and discusses the effects on cap rates and bond yields.
[31:29] In a rising interest rate environment with the banks fully overfunded, owning bank stocks is a good place to be.
[32:37] Brick retail is not dead; it is thriving. Tune in to hear the retail numbers for November compared to E-Commerce.
[36:46] The oil market and projections for the cost of crude over the next two to three years with this supply and demand imbalance coming into our economy.
[45:21] Willy talks about the housing market, affordability and how it affects home builders.
[50:24] What is Dr. Peter seeing in the office and retail market? Will 80% of people be back in the office by June, or is it wildly optimistic?
[55:22] Where is the smart money going right now?
[57:43] The current state of international travel and ideal places to visit according to Peter.
Check out our previous Walker Webcasts: » Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QkMqEzOkzNmWUe9kpfRJ4213jIh6LNk
Stay younger, longer! Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Michael Roizen on slowing the aging process, the key to longevity, and more
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed Dr. Michael Roizen, on how to live a healthy, happy, and longer life. Dr. Roizen is the New York Times #1 best-selling author of RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be? and three other #1's and Chief Wellness Officer Emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic. As we kick-off a New Year, join us to hear how you can live healthier and happier and prepare for the coming (80% probability) reboot so you'll be 40 when the calendar strikes 90.
Listen now!
ABOUT: Michael F. Roizen, MD, is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine who is passionate about helping people choose to live younger and healthier. He performed his residency in internal medicine at Harvard's Beth Israel Hospital and completed Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health in the laboratory of Irv Kopin and Nobel Prize winner Julius Axelrod. He is certified by both the American Boards of Internal Medicine and of Anesthesiology. Dr. Roizen is the Cofounder of RealAge Inc, which was sold in 2006, but still Chairs its Scientific Advisory Board. He is 72 calendar years of age (2018), but his real age is 53.8.
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Leadership, loyalty, and trust: Alan Fleischmann, Laurel Strategies CEO and SiriusXM Host
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed the man behind the nation’s most powerful CEOs and c-suite professionals, Alan Fleischmann, Founder and CEO of Laurel Strategies and host of SiriusXM show, Leadership Matters. Alan discussed his early entrepreneurial days, his passion for helping people find their voice, the importance of trust, and much more.
0:50 - Willy introduces today’s guest, Alan Fleischmann. 2:50 - Alan tells the story of his father’s life during the war and his relationship with Eisenhower. 7:08 - Alan’s willingness to lead others to success. 9:52 - Dealing with loss and grief. 13:25 - The importance of asking the right questions. 15:00 - Alan’s drive for entrepreneurship. 20:58 - Why do people work with Alan? 26:54 - Alan shares the inspiring story of Pfizer’s CEO. 31:10 - What should leaders be considering during these times? 39:33 - What Alan looks for in board members. 47:14 - Investing in the next generations to create the future. 50:17 - The work of Just Capital. 54:04 - How leaders can establish trust in their own culture.
Listen now!
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Wells Fargo Heads of CRE and Home Lending on the economy, technology, future of office, and more.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed Wells Fargo's Head of Home Lending Kristy Fercho and Head of Commercial Real Estate Kara McShane. Kristy and Kara discussed the latest market trends, what could come next, how they have advanced their careers and effectively run their respective businesses, and much more.
2:20 - Willy introduces today’s guests, Kara McShane and Kristy Fercho. 5:04 - Kara and Wells Fargo’s outlook for commercial real estate in 2022. 9:03 - The current state of the single family market. 12:42 - Forbearance in the single family market. 14:43 - Which commercial asset classes is Wells Fargo excited to invest in? 19:48 - Affordability and supply in the single family market. 24:18 - How to create supply without sending us into a single family crisis. 26:37 - How can more affordable housing be created in the U.S.? 30:15 - Expanding homeownership. 34:57 - Where do the opportunities for capital lie in 2022? 43:32 - Technology and Wells Fargo. 48:04 - How is technology implemented at a company of such a large scale? 51:45 - Hopes for returning to the office. 57:18 - Thanks to Kara and Kristy for joining us today on the Walker Webcast!
Listen now!
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A bright future for CRE!
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed Ed Walter, ULI's Global CEO, and Billy Grayson, EVP of ULI's Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance. They discussed the recent Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2022 report, which is jam-packed with everything from the hottest markets to the potential impact of returning to the office. In addition, they covered the latest green and environmental standards within the built environment.
0:50 - Willy introduces today’s guests, Ed Walter and Bill Grayson. 3:03 - The current state of the real estate industry. 6:37 - How did the pandemic impact sustainability as ESG for real estate? 10:00 - The challenge for real estate to become carbon neutral. 18:30 - Transforming retail and business spaces to residential dwellings. 21:20 - Supply and demand on the housing front. 31:00 - What policy issues are driving major investments today? 36:40 - Why rent control is not the solution to the affordability problem. 39:00 - Tax policy among investors. 41:55 - The four distinct markets in the U.S. 46:20 - Breaking down different climates from an environmental sustainability standpoint. 58:25 - Thanks to Ed and Billy for joining us today on the Walker Webcast!
Listen now!
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State of CRE - Walker & Dunlop's Experts' Outlooks on Debt, Equity, and Investment Sales
It's time to do a deep dive on the state of commercial real estate! Willy was joined by Walker & Dunlop's very own experts to provide a 360 view of the industry. Find out what trends you should be taking seriously in property sales, financing, and more: Kris Mikkelsen, Executive Vice President, Investment Sales, who oversaw $15B+ in property sales over the past two years, will discuss the top 10 multifamily markets, the impact of cap rate compression, and who is buying and selling. Aaron Appel, Senior Managing Director, Capital Markets and regular on Commercial Observers Power Finance list, will cover what he sees in New York City and beyond and the state of the office, retail, industrial, and more. Ivy Zelman, Executive Vice President, Research and Securities, and one of Barron's Top 100 Women in U.S. Finance, will touch on housing market trends and what impact the infrastructure bill may have on housing.
0:48 - Willy introduces today’s guests, Kris Mikkelsen, Aaron Appel and Ivy Zelman. 3:31 - Each colleague answers 3 rapid-fire questions about the current market. 8:21 - Discussing equity yields and expectations 11:00 - Ivy elaborates on multi family inflation, supply and demand. 15:05 - Has capital begun to be redelegated to asset classes which have previously suffered? 22:08 - Forgetting about cap rates. 30:40 - Discussing the labor shortage and wage growth. 31:30 - Which buildings will thrive in the upcoming rental market? 33:48 - The impact of remote work on the single family market. 36:30 - The build for rent vs. for sale market. 44:49 - Can legal immigration turn the demographic tables? 50:10 - Are Americans less focused on ownership? 52:30 - Where is there opportunity in the market today?
Listen now!
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"Aim for excellence" - Producer Allyn Stewart on the business of making a blockbuster movie
Ever watch a film and wonder how it was made? Well, we have answers for you.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed President of Flashlight Films Allyn Stewart, the producer behind iconic films such as Sully, Dangerous Liaisons, and Driving Miss Daisy to discuss the business of making movies. Allyn discussed everything from how streaming is impacting the film industry to what it's like working with Tom Hanks.
0:47 - Willy gives a recent market update. 3:25 - Welcome to the show, Allyn Stewart! 5:10 - What attracted Allyn to the movie industry, and how did she decide to start a company? 8:13 - Conversation turns to Driving Miss Daisy. 11:46 - Willy and Allyn talk about scripts and looking beyond surface glamour. 16:25 - What has Allyn’s experience been like as a female in her business? 19:24 - Allyn comments on navigating creativity and business concerns. 24:27 - Willy asks about budget planning, and film shooting. 30:05 - Safety on a film set is of paramount importance. 34:00 - Allyn talks about SULLY’s authenticity and story, film editing, and Trial by Fire. 42:48 - What can Allyn say about the future of Hollywood, small screens, and her current work?
Listen now!
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Business of well-being - Principal Financial CEO Dan Houston on retirement and his career journey
Feeling financially secure is on most people's wish list, and for the past four decades, it's been Dan Houston's job to help people achieve that wish.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed Dan Houston on the hows and whys of financial planning, growing and scaling a much-admired Fortune 500 company, and what trends he's tracking in the global economy.
0:48 - Willy gives a recent market update. 3:44 - Willy introduces today’s guest, Dan Houston. 5:34 - Dan’s early days in Iowa. 8:45 - Dan’s college experience. 11:22 - What brought Dan to Principal Financial Group? 13:15 - Dan’s most impactful mentors. 21:42 - Dan reflects on previous decisions made in Principal. 29:11 - What should we all be considering about saving for retirement? 37:22 - How savings methods differ amongst various age demographics. 39:20 - Bringing employees back to the office and the importance of relationships in companies. 43:46 - Principal’s global reach, but local community mentality. 50:15 - Closing words.
Listen now!
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Making diversity work in the workplace with John Rice, CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow
John Rice, Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow, has dedicated himself to racial equity, transforming the careers of people of color, and helping organizations move the needle on DEI. On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed John Rice on the need for organizations to take a rigorous approach to DEI, the three degrees of racism, and his incredible family history.
0:48 - Willy introduces today’s guest, John Rice. 4:00 - John’s ability to ask the tough questions. 6:46 - John recalls his childhood and spending time with his immigrant grandparents in Maine. 13:35 - John’s family’s upbringing and emphasis on education. 17:22 - The differences in outlooks vs. backgrounds. 22:49 - How John’s parents motivated him to mold his own career path. 31:15 - Background on MLT. 32:42 - The role of employers in achieving racial equity. 36:07 - The 3 degrees of racism. 39:25 - Where do we stand now on these issues? 42:30 - How MLT is helping to move the needle towards accountability. 43:54 - Calling companies in rather than calling them out.
Listen now!
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Ivy Zelman and Dennis McGill Challenge the Housing Market Orthodoxy
5-star housing analyst Ivy Zelman is back on the Walker Webcast! She saw the future of the housing market in 2005 and 2012 -- are her predictions right again? Her latest "Cradle to Grave" report debunks the narrative that we have a housing shortage. On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed Ivy to discuss how slow population growth and shifting demographic characteristics mean that the seeds of housing oversupply may be planted. We'll also be sneaking in a few questions about her new memoir, Gimme Shelter!
0:48 - Willy introduces today’s guests, Ivy Zelman and Dennis McGill. 3:22 - The biggest lessons and takeaways from Ivy’s book. 6:30 - The importance of networking and being kind. 8:30 - Ivy’s experience as a woman in the industry. 15:53 - Ivy’s method for watching the stock market now. 20:32 - Discussing Ivy and Dennis’s publication Investors Gone Wild. 27:25 - Immigration, population decline and demographics. 36:30 - The timeline for oversupply. 43:08 - Demand for new vs. old homes. 47:15 - Discussing the build for rent market. 55:12 - Closing words.
Listen now!
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What Jobs, Musk & Oprah Have In Common?
Legendary Harvard Business School professor Dr. Richard Tedlow’s books on Tom Watson of IBM and Andy Grove of Intel were Business Week selections as outstanding. His newest book, on Charismatic Leadership, profiles the likes of Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Oprah.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed Richard for an in-depth discussion on leadership, vision, and what makes our generation’s greatest business minds tick.
0:48 - Willy introduces today’s guest Dr. Richard Tedlow. 2:03 - Dr. Tedlow discusses the inspiration behind his new book, The Emergence of Charismatic Business Leadership. 8:55 - Are adversities a catalyst for success? 15:30 - Discussing Harlow Curtice and GM’s worldwide influence. 24:25 - The truth behind the first Apple advertisement. 26:36 - Sam Walton’s competitive background. 31:15 - Under promising and over delivering. 32:07 - The story behind Mary Kay. 38:03 - Steve’s 12 years away from Apple. 44:00 - The announcement of the iPhone and emergence of Apple. 50:52 - Elon Musk and the sustainability of his creations. 54:31 - Charismatic leadership.
Listen now!
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Load Up On Assets! Dr. Peter Linneman on Inflation, Job Growth & Interest Rates
Renowned economist Dr. Peter Linneman once again dazzled our host, Willy Walker, with numbers. He and Willy spoke about everything from COVID recovery and job growth to inflation and the CRE industry's path forward, with data to back up each assertion. As per usual, it was an hour filled with insight!
0:55 - Willy introduces today’s guest, Peter Linneman. 3:28 - Discussing trends in unemployment and benefit expiration. 10:33 - Discussing the reality of inflation. 17:15 - Trends in wage increases. 18:50 - Undersupply of housing and its unaffordability. 28:30 - The effects of increased savings and cash deposits during Covid. 36:10 - The unique advantage of multi family housing. 40:20 - Breaking down real interest rates. 43:40 - Is Peter concerned by the national debt rates? 46:51 - Discussing presidential approval rating. 51:00 - Job markets around the country and MSAs tracked by the Linneman Letter. 54:45 - Peter shares predictions for office trends to come.
Listen now!
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Life As A Rockstar - R.E.M.'s Mike Mills and Bertis Downs on Music, Fame, Business & more
On this Walker Webcast, our host, Willy Walker, has a behind-the-scenes discussion with R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and manager Bertis Downs. R.E.M.'s music took the world by storm in the 1990s with hits such as “Losing My Religion” and “Everybody Hurts” and record sales of over 90 million. Watch now to hear about their journey from Athens, Georgia to the world stage, building a business and iconic brand, the inspiration behind various hit songs, and much more.
1:02 Willy introduces guests, Bertis and Mike. 3:05 REM’s journey of getting going as a band. 4:23 The story of Ingrid Schorr and“(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”. 5:20 Opening for The Police and the New Music movement. 7:04 Bertis becoming a non-musical member of REM. 9:10 Building momentum and when REM reached a new level of success. 11:35 How they worked as a band group as they emerged in success. 16:00 Nerves before a show—from both the band and the business side. 19:47 Annual meetings, business, and hanging as friends. 21:48 What comes first, music or lyrics? 24:15 Veto rights 25:55 Willy meeting REM, Paraguay, and playing for indigenous peoples. 33:37 Accelerating to rock stars, how the world was different, and penetrating global barriers. 36:13 Worlds changing as REM was getting busier. 38:55 The Warner Brothers contract and the freedom from keeping full creative control. 42:55 What period was the most fun for the band? 47:52 Recalling the 1990s and 2000s. 50:10 U2 and REM—the similarities and differences in operating as bands. 54:24 Intellectual property rights, streaming, and rewarding artists today.
Listen now!
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The Future of MGM Resorts | with CEO Bill Hornbuckle
Bill Hornbuckle, President & CEO of MGM Resorts International, oversees the largest gaming company in the world, including iconic properties like the Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Mirage.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker spoke to Bill to hear how MGM navigated the pandemic, sold all its real estate, is investing in online gambling, and building new sports and entertainment offerings across the country and globe. And oh, also how MGM built the hospitality industry’s largest directly sourced renewable electricity project worldwide to supply 90% of daytime power for all of their Las Vegas properties, and how much you need to bet to get an MGM plane to pick you up!
00:59 - The current economic state of Las Vegas. 2:13 - Discussing the new Allegiant Stadium. 5:00 - What brought Bill to Las Vegas? 11:43 - Customer and employee centricity at MGM. 15:47 - MGM’s sustainability efforts. 18:37 - MGM regional and international locations. 23:41 - MGM’s involvement in the music and entertainment industry. 28:14 - MGM’s asset-light strategy. 30:31 - Who is MGM’s competition? 32:40 - How gambling sets MGM apart from other entertainment companies. 35:18 - Behind the scenes at MGM. 38:15 - Concluding thoughts.
Listen now!
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Weathering the Pandemic & the Future of Skiing, Golf, and Hospitality
Deer Valley. Soneva. Baillie Lodges. Grand Hotel Mackinac Island. KSL Capital Partners owns some of the most iconic travel and leisure destinations in the world. On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed KSL CEO Eric Resnick. They discussed navigating the pandemic, the future of skiing, golf, and other outdoor recreation, and where KSL sees growth and opportunity in travel and leisure investing going forward.
0:48 - Welcome to this episode with Eric Resnick of KSL Capital! 2:12 - Why did Eric attend Cornell and take the initial career steps he took? 10:35 - Eric joined Vail, and he and Mike Shannon developed the idea for KSL. 16:29 - Turn the clock back to March 2020 - examining the company and its markets. 28:21 - Why did KSL take over Apple Leisure? 35:57 - KSL has invested in emerging concepts in the hospitality space. 50:29 - The conversation turns to Alterra and environmentalism.
Listen now!
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Leading Through Change | with Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter
Renowned Harvard Business School professor Dr. John Kotter has studied, written, and lectured about leadership for decades. In his newest book, Change, Kotter dives into how corporations can effectively innovate and evolve in this fast-changing, technologically-enabled world.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed this award-winning professor, who has impacted the thinking and approach of countless leaders, including our own CEO.
0:48 - Willy introduces his guest, Dr. John Kotter. 1:32 - Walker and Dunlop’s new acquisition. 4:21 - Dr. Kotter explains a good sense of urgency. 9:10 - Willy asks Dr. Kotter about what makes good communication. 15:45 - Getting the buy-in of your employees when making changes. 18:23 - Thrive vs. Survive. 33:18 - How a good story is essential to business. 35:25 - Leadership and politics. 49:45 - How to create culture with the customer in mind.
Listen now!
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Culture. Creativity. And Branding. | Acceleration Partners CEO Tells All
A few years ago, Robert Glazer, Founder and CEO of renowned marketing agency Acceleration Partners, started sending a weekly note to his 30 remote employees. Now over 200,000 subscribers around the globe read his Friday Forward emails for connection and inspiration. From lessons on the need for core values at work and in life to strategies for saying 'no,' Robert's opinions and his approach to life and business have resulted in Ted Talks, bestselling books, and a dedicated following.
On this Walker Webcast, he sat down with Willy Walker to discuss how he handles time management, his approach to leadership, marketing, and so much more.
Two themes that arise several times are his dedication to his core values to guide every decision he makes and his approach to remote work. If you are interested in taking a course on these subjects, visit his website and use the discount code "walker" at check out here: https://www.robertglazer.com/courses/
0:49 - Welcome to this episode, with guest Robert Glazer! 4:02 - What is affiliate marketing and what does Acceleration Partners do? 8:01 - The company has expanded much, but maintains certain standards. 12:22 - The conversation turns to Friday Forward. 17:32 - Willy asks about the relationship between revenue, reputation, and reach. 23:27 - Bob has particular strategies for managing time and priorities. 28:21 - He makes use of a “stop doing” list, which has an application to his work. 32:42 - Bob is committed to core values and effective emotional leadership. 38:24 - He and Willy consider thriving in a virtual workplace. 44:16 - They then turn to employee retention and a culture of being able to fail. 49:07 - Bob offers a tool for help determining core values and recommends a couple books.
Listen now!
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Systemization is the Key to Execution - CEO Steven DeFrancis on the immense growth of Cortland
As a top 50 apartment owner and operator, Cortland has a brand and reputation of success and customer service. On the latest Walker Webcast, CEO Steven DeFrancis joined us to discuss his strategic approach to systemization, his focus on building a stellar team, and his approach to growth.
0:48 - Willy previews episodes to come. 2:33 - Willy introduces his guest, Steven DeFrancis, CEO of Cortland. 4:42 - What led Cortland to shift? 10:19 - What about the company’s change led to insourcing? 22:17 - Steven comments on Cortland’s approach to brand and recruitment. 28:46 - Cortland maintains a high level of standardization. 35:11 - Willy asks about the move to being vertically integrated. 42:08 - Willy and Steven talk about the market now and Cortland’s strategy. 51:39 - Will Cortland’s main focus going forward be service or capital? 54:41 - What is the best and worst leading today versus earlier in the company’s life?
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From a 'Clueless Kid' to Building Smart Cities - JBG Smith CEO Matt Kelly on Growth and Strategy While Matt Kelly may suspect that his high school principal would have called him a clueless kid, the CEO of JBG Smith is far from clueless now. Over the course of his career, Matt has taken the company public, negotiated HQ2 with Amazon, and more - not to mention he's planning to turn National Landing into an iconic smart city. In this episode, Willy Walker talked to Matt about his career journey and the strategies he's deploying to grow JBG Smith.
1:10 - Willy starts the episode off with some market-relevant headlines. 3:17 - He introduces Matt and asks about Matt’s background and early career. 14:03 - Willy wants to know about Matt’s move to JBG and the company’s transition. 25:55 - The conversation turns to Matt’s role as CEO. 29:37 - Why does JBG Smith stay localized in the D.C. area, and is it diversified? 36:35 - Willy requests Matt’s take on what moving back to physical offices will look like. 44:16 - When it comes to multifamily property, does Matt want to build or buy? 49:34 - Matt and Willy talk about the Amazon HQ2 project. 55:38 - Willy asks final question about autonomous vehicles.
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What Drives Exceptional Performance? | with author James Kerr
What do the New York Mets, the Navy SEALs, and Google have in common? They have all sought the expertise of James Kerr. James has dedicated his career to understanding leadership and high performance in order to help elite performers raise their game. His international bestseller, Legacy, which analyzes the rise and reign of one of the most successful sports teams in the world, the New Zealand All Blacks, is considered required reading for anyone who wants to lead an outperforming team.
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviewed James on the blueprint for winning teams: a relentless focus on excellence, a commitment to a collective cause, individual autonomy, trust initiative and accountability, and candid communication.
1:30- Willy introduces the guest speaker, James Kerr. 3:28- James shares the inspiration behind his book, "Legacy". 6:10- How to give businesses the same sense of ownership as sports teams. 10:00- The importance of clear goals and visions. 14:00- James and Willy talk about factors that make a good sports team and business. 18:20- What does it mean to sing your world into existence? 21:45- James shares his thoughts on how to reach level 5 leadership. 25:35- James talks about his book and shows how the same factors used to make the All Blacks successful can be used to make a business successful. 36:30- How to set clear expectations for behavior. 42:40- The importance of continually improving your business and having an adaptive culture. 47:20- How to set up plans for achievement. 51:23- How to make people in a business feel like they are part of something special.
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How a 17-Time Tour de France Racer Balances Entrepreneurship & Relationships On this Walker Webcast, George Hincapie sat down with host Willy Walker to discuss his successful businesses, the future of cycling and adventure tourism, and the results of both the Tour de France and ongoing Olympic games. Listen to hear about how George became a tour de force in business.
0:48 - Willy shares who his guests will be, but wants to share a few things before the interview. 3:00 - George explains his unique role in cycling. 9:30 - How George became the face of cycling and built his brand. 12:21 - How the Hincapie products are developed. 17:10 - George’s Peloton and Nordictrack classes. 21:23 - Types of biking and the cyclists . 34:18 - Willy asks George how technology has changed the sport of cycling. 38:42 - Fans and the Tour de France. 42:30 - George’s restaurant and it’s COVID response. 45:08 - Willy asks George about his legacy.
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The Future of Real Estate Development with Suffolk CEO John Fish
John Fish is no longer building for the present - his eyes are set on the future and how he can help transform the real estate development industry for the next generation. On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviews the Suffolk CEO on his career journey, how he built the culture at Suffolk, the current state of CRE construction, and the future he is imagining and working towards.
0:50- Willy recaps the Walker & Dunlop Summer Conference. 7:32 - John Fish shares about his sport and academic background. 10:38 - John’s values of collaboration, empathy and humility. 13:32 - John’s “why not?” attitude in business. 15:20 - Why did John start Suffolk rather than following in his father’s footsteps? 17:10 - John’s family’s history in business and innovation. 23:06 - Suffolk’s approach to staffing and recruiting. 27:55 - The most important asset class at Suffolk. 34:30 - Is the country ready to deal with these big infrastructure developments? 38:37 - How Suffolk addresses social issues. 42:30 - Are inflation and construction costs here to stay? 50:04 - John’s advice for construction plans. 54:05 - Philanthropies and the need for business and government to work together.
Listen to hear John's take on the latest real estate development trends, and what he sees ahead.
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Character, culture, and community - to win an NCAA Championship? UMass hockey coach Greg Carvel shares his keys to success
For Greg Carvel, Head Coach of the NCAA Championship hockey team at UMass, the math for creating a high-performance team is simple: People provide character, character creates culture, and culture wins championships. Coach Carvel joined Willy Walker on the Walker Webcast to share how he took one of the worst programs in the country and made it the best, what did he do to recruit top talent, and how he is able to stay on top with so many players heading to the NHL.
Greg begins by discussing how culture is critical to style, and he stresses the importance of being humble and letting others praise your virtues. More details from the discussion include: • At the 7 minute mark, he shares his experience on the “journey from worst to first” and how he persevered when Covid infiltrated their team before the national semi-final game. • His leadership style is notable (13 minute mark). He highlights that leadership trickles down an organization so it is critical to have “clarity of vision” that is articulated in a way so that others believe it. • Carvel shares what he looks for when recruiting (15 minute mark) and how he prioritizes character over the players’ hockey skills. • At the 17 minute mark, tune in to hear about the UMass hockey team’s core values and why connections are the most important of the five tenets: integrity, commitment, compete, connection, and unity. Carvel attributes their success as a team to the character of each individual team member. Further, he reminds us that it is important for leaders to remember they are never too big to do the little things. • At the 36 minute mark, Carvel shares the special ingredient that sets their team apart: behavior. He discusses why it is critical to create a common purpose, which was especially important when the team was stuck in a rut. • Lastly, he highlights how being authentic and vulnerable shaped their team culture. Notably, he says forming connections starts with being one’s true self. (41 minute mark) • At the 51 minute mark, Carvel takes questions from the audience. • At the 56 minute mark, Walker & Dunlop Chairman and CEO Willy Walker shares his closing remarks.
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Ready for the roaring '20s?! Dr. Peter Linneman on the economic data he's tracking
According to leading economist Dr. Peter Linneman, all economic indicators are pointing to a new-age roaring 20s! Watch the latest Walker Webcast to get a sense of the data points Dr. Linneman and his team are tracking and his advice on navigating the upcoming economic boom. Having analyzed the latest data from Q2, Dr. Linneman also reviews his past predictions and provides insights into the trends impacting the commercial real estate space.
Host Willy Walker and Dr. Linneman discuss: • Uncertainty in the coming months due to variants of Covid-19 • Dr. Linneman’s thoughts on unemployment numbers and what may happen when unemployment stipends end in early September (9-minute mark) • Insights on the changing dynamics of labor, the necessary shifts in business models, and what will happen to those who fled cities in the past year (18-minute mark) • Analysis within the Linneman Report, which discusses the pros and cons of the GDP returning to 2019 levels (22-minute mark) • Mr. Walker and Dr. Linneman also discuss the Gallup poll: Satisfaction with America, why it is higher than it has been in the past decade, and the role the news and social media have played in this • Jump to the 35 minute mark to hear them discuss the health of U.S. households and how we can take advantage of it
Want an economist's forecast for office, multi-markets sector and jobs? Keep listening to find out.
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Who's got the pricing power? Ivy Zelman’s take on the geographies rebounding the fastest
A lot is happening in the housing industry. Our host, Willy Walker, brings back veteran Ivy Zelman for the Walker Webcast! Ivy, CEO and Co-Founder of the foremost housing research firm in the nation, Zelman & Associates, shares her insights into trends impacting home building and building operations, including inflation, the eviction moratoriums, homebuilding supply chains, and more.
05:31 - Willy introduces the episode and the guests. 06:15 - Ivy reveals what she likes most about the housing sector. 08:25 - Ivy provides analysis on current market prices and predictions for the future. 13:25 - Affordability issue faced by home buyers. 15:30 - How are homebuilders reacting to the current market? 17:55 - How are builders dealing with lumber cost increases and labor shortfalls? 21:55 - Are these inflationary measures here to stay? 27:25 - Is it more profitable to build for sale or build for rent? 31:20 - What does the influx of single family home renters reveal? 36:15 - Where is the current mortgage forbearance headed? 42:30 - Where is the best place to invest right now? 51:05 - Moves toward affordable manufactured housing communities. 57:00 - Closing words.
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Squawk on the Street | CNBC's Co-Host David Faber on career, news and more!
With millions of viewers each week, CNBC's Squawk on the Street is the go-to source for the latest business and market updates. On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker is flipping the camera and interviewing Squawk on the Street co-anchor David Faber to discuss everything from his career journey in journalism to the biggest market trends that he is reporting on today.
0:56 - Willy discusses the conference he’s currently attending 4:09 - Willy introduces today’s guest, David Faber 8:45 - David’s move to CNBC 10:45 - David’s on camera persona and appearance 13:08 - A typical reporting day for David 21:37 - Pros and cons of the studio vs. home 27:39 - Willy asks David’s about the big stories in the 90’s and early 2000’s 41:22 - David’s opinion on GameStop and AMC
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Harvard Professor Fritz Foley on Tax, Trade, Business & Academia
Do corporate valuations make sense? What are the implications of Biden’s tax proposals? And how did the pandemic change business education forever?
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviews Harvard Business School professor and corporate finance expert Fritz Foley to discuss the markets, taxes, international trade, and the future of business education. From the rise of multinational corporations and potential tax policy implications to the role of CFOs and the importance of investor relations, Fritz Foley has researched and taught it all.
3:00 - Willy introduces his guest, Fritz Foley. 3:55 - Why Fritz chose a career in academia. 6:00 - The day-to-day case method at HBS. 8:10 - Different backgrounds of Fritz’s students. 11:40 - Fritz’s favorite cases to teach. 14:14 - Differences in discussions between executive education and MBA classrooms. 18:13 - Are multinational corporations on the decline? 20:56 - The emergence of China. 23:35 - Business taxations. 29:13 - Risk-neutral expense. 35:30 - Fritz’s most effective way of teaching. 38:05 - The future of business education. 45:00 - The cost and implications of case writing. 49:08 - What role does guidance play? 54:00 - Impacts of the pandemic.
Listen to find out the future of business education!
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Resilience, Humor, & Trust. How Great Teams Are Formed | with retired Navy SEAL commander Rich Diviney
Building a high-performing team is of the utmost importance to a Navy SEAL commander, which Rich Diviney knows firsthand from his experience in that role. Since retiring, Rich has taken what he learned and discovered as a SEAL commander and is sharing it with the world.
So, what’s the DNA of successful teams, and how can you build them in your world? Rich joined our host, Willy Walker, on the latest Walker Webcast to discuss high performance team building and management, the difference between a skill and an attribute, how to test for attributes, the importance of aerobic thinking, and more.
0:49 Introduction of guest, Rich Diviney. 2:05 The extraordinary path of a SEAL and what led Rich there. 3:55 Predicting who would make it through training. 6:17 Cunning and creativity attributes; the false depiction of the image of a SEAL. 8:34 Primary goal: get in and get out without being visible. 10:02 Suspending the fight or flight response. 14:17 Controlling our 3 foot world. 14:43 Dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. 19:05 Aerobic thinkers. 21:55 Peak performance vs optimal performance. 24:58 Evaluating innate attributes and not skills. 31:14 Interviews to test character. 37:05 How can corporations get down to these core attributes in an interview? 42:28 When he first started looking at attributes. 46:38 What makes him a leader amongst leaders. 48:22 Empathy and congruity of thought.
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How the Pandemic Transformed Healthcare | with Ventas CEO Debra Cafaro
On this Walker Webcast, Willy Walker interviews Debra Cafaro to discuss her company, Ventas, Inc's, diversified portfolio of healthcare, life science, research and innovation, healthcare and senior living properties, the general trends she is tracking as Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable, her views on innovation and leadership, and more.
Debra is one of the most successful and influential CEOs in the commercial real estate industry. Since joining healthcare REIT Ventas in 1999, she has set and overseen execution of a long-term strategy that has driven the company from a struggling $200M market capitalization into an industry leader with an enterprise value of $32B. Her incredible work has landed her on Forbes Magazine's World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list twice, Harvard Business Review’s The CEO 100 list for six consecutive years, and Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare list.
00:49 - Host Willy Walker discusses current stock charts 03:30 - Willy introduces Debra. 08:32 - Debra discusses growing up in Pittsburgh and her relationship with her dad. 11:14 - How rare coins helped Debra go to college. 15:07 - Women in business. 20:34 - How Debra changed Ventas. 32:30 - How COVID affected senior housing. 43:01 - Ventas and diversity.
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The Role Technology Can Play in Improving Your Health | feat. WHOOP's Will Ahmed
Unicorn health and technology company WHOOP is being used by Rory McIlroy, Patrick Mahomes, and people like YOU to measure sleep, strain, recovery, and health. WHOOP founder and CEO Will Ahmed joined Willy Walker on this week's Walker Webcast to discuss how he built WHOOP into a start-up worth over $1 billion, and how WHOOP data is transforming lives.
1:30 Introduction of Will Ahmed 3:30 What keeps Will centered? 5:00 How the ides of WHOOP came to be 6:50 Performance vs. recovery 10:30 Hardware vs. software 12:50 Will’s initial driving force 18:38 Discussing heart rate variability 21:30 Whoop’s various capabilities 25:00 Sleep monitoring 30:50 WHOOP’s COVID-19 data 37:50 Shoutout to WHOOP’s podcast 42:50 Wearables competition 46:00 Future of WHOOP 52:00 Closing words
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What's the Secret to Achieving Success, Personal Fulfillment and Life Satisfaction? Jim Loehr Tells All
What is the single most critical factor in achieving success, personal fulfillment, and life satisfaction? The strength of one’s character. In his latest book, Leading with Character, world-renowned performance psychologist and co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, Dr. Jim Loehr writes that you must build character the same way you build muscle - through practice and energy investment.
5:07 Jim welcomed on 6:00 Jim’s philosophy while coaching athletes 10:30 How Jim trains athletes to not allow outside factors affect their performance 11:30 What can non-athletes take away from Jim’s coaching philosophy? 17:11 Team vs. individual sports 29:00 The role of nervousness and stress 33:35 The Goldman Dilemma 38:00 Jim’s CEO coaching 42:30 How can character be built? 45:50 What is a credo? 52:20 How to achieve full engagement
Listen to learn how to reclaim your peak performance!
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Investing in 2021: BlackRock's Kate Moore on market activity and investment advice
Roaring 20s? Asset bubble? Rate hikes? Willy Walker interviews BlackRock Managing Director Kate Moore on the investment opportunities worth tracking, the hot trends Kate's keeping a speculative eye on, and the geographic markets she sees as most (and least) promising.
Listen to learn the importance of diversifying your investments.
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Are we getting our money's worth? Dr. Peter Linneman on Stimulus, Inflation, & Identifying our Collective Enemy
Willy Walker interviews renowned economist Dr. Peter Linneman on the economy and the CRE industry. Their conversation is packed with insights into government stimulus, unemployment, asset class performance, and so much more.
0:49 Peter welcomed on 3:47 Linneman letter 6:32 Discussion on investments 8:11 Debt relief packages, economy acquisitions, what the government is doing 10:51 Government spending and relief 16:31 Peak pre-COVID quarters and ending 2020 20:12 Chairman Powell’s interview 21:50 Short term rates and inflation 30:30 Yield and personal interest income 35:35 What are people going to do with the excess money? 38:30 What we should be careful of 41:31 Projection on single family market and housing 45:14 Strongest and weakest multi markets by end of 2022 47:09 Office markets, hospitality, and retail 44:49 Carbon emissions 58:24 Thank you to Peter
Want to find out an economist's forecast for office, multi-markets sector and jobs? Listen to find out.
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Emerging Technologies That Will Change The Future Of Business - with Booz Allen Hamilton CEO
Willy Walker interviews CEO Horacio Rozanski to discuss how technologies like AI , cyber, and 5G are shaping the world around us, why diversity and inclusion is crucial for cultivating a culture of innovation, and whether the pandemic has permanently changed the role of the consultant.
With roles like cyber threat hunter, quantum scientist, AI ethicist, and CX strategist, Booz Allen Hamilton employees are shaping the future of the United States’ most critical defense, civilian, and intelligence missions. From defending against nation-state cyberattacks to securing satellite data to advising on vaccine distribution, the company is at the forefront of protecting American interests.
00:48 - Host Willy Walker welcomes listeners to the show. 04:10 - Willy provides background on Booz Allen Hamilton. 04:43 - Today’s guest Horacio Rozanski is introduced. 05:30 - Horacio’s journey from Argentina to the U.S. 09:57 - How Booz Allen has changed over the years. 11:15 - Horacio shares Booz Allen’s 3 keys to success. 16:26 - The biggest threats Booz Allen faces in their ability to do their work. 19:09 - Awards vs. Internal Recognition. 21:05 - How Booz Allen adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. 23:29 - Intentional travel and the new model of remote work. 27:27 - Booz Allen’s work with robotics and AI. 34:40 - How the work changes with changing administrations. 37:06 - Booz Allen’s work with space command. 41:49 - The untapped potential of 5G. 45:15 - Horacio’s thoughts on war-gaming. 48:28 - Horacio’s advice on protecting against Ransomware attacks. 53:10 - Merging the personal and professional: Booz Allen’s contributions to the world.
Listen to find out how this technology is transforming businesses.
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Has the Pandemic Forced Companies to Rethink their Communication Strategies?
The pandemic changed everything — where we work, how we live, and what we consume. So how has your internal and external communications strategy changed? Willy Walker interviews Russell Dubner, President & CEO, U.S. of global communications powerhouse Edelman to discuss communication strategies, social media, and why Americans are looking to corporate America for policy, solutions and leadership coming out of the pandemic.
1:12 - Host Willy Walker provides background on Edelman and his guest, Russel Dubner. 2:30 - Russell Dubner speaks of his background and why he joined Edelman. 4:35 - How Edelman works with companies selling a wide array of products. 8:55 - Comparison between average media spend in the early 2000’s vs. modern day. 11:30 - Russell’s predictions for the future of digital marketing. 16:00 - The two qualifications to make communication and ad strategy so effective. 20:00 - Edelman’s collaboration with Tough Mudder. 23:15 - Russell’s core tenants for building a brand. 28:30 - Edelman’s work in crisis management. 36:00 - Shifting of the trust dynamic in the U.S. 39:40 - Should employers refrain from disclosing their own political beliefs? 40:22 - Dove’s new campaign “Pledge for Paternity Leave”. 43:50 - How communications and PR may change post-lockdowns. 47:20 - How has Edelman functioned remotely? 50:50 - Advice for leaders hoping to return to normal. 53:00 - Where do many large companies stand in terms of societal issues?
Listen to learn Russell's tips on how to build a branding strategy.
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Is Wall Street Upbeat About the Outlook of the Economy Post-Pandemic?
Willy Walker interviews Morgan Stanley's Head of U.S. CRE Research, Richard Hill and JPMorgan's Head of Consumer and Specialty Finance Research, Rick Shane to discuss commercial real estate, banking, and consumer finance coming out of the COVID pandemic.
They discuss the comparison of the Great Financial Crisis and the economic turmoil caused by the Pandemic, the likelihood of student loan forgiveness and the potential impact on the lending and housing spaces; and predictions pertaining to the performance of different asset classes, including multifamily, retail, and hospitality.
00:49 - Willy Walker provides background on Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan. 04:58 - Willy introduces guests, Rick Shane and Richard Hill. 06:19 - Rick and Richard offer the one stock they’re both in on right now . 09:33 - Rick’s “cautious” approach to the unprecedented events of 2020. 14:30 - Concerns the commercial real estate industry faced in 2020. 20:39 - How the market was able to come back strong. 21:43 - Rick and Richard rate Washington’s financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 25:26 - Are things really as good as they currently seem? 27:48 - The future of student loan forgiveness. 34:34 - Rick’s work in the auto finance industry and improving labor markets. 42:23 - The competitive side of remote work vs. in office work. 47:20 - Rich’s thoughts on inflation rates and how it relates to commercial real estate markets. 52:50 - Fintech vs. Traditional Finance Companies. 56:24 - Hospitality rebound and office rebound on the other side of COVID-19.
Listen to find out Richard and Rick's biggest concern about the commercial real estate sector.
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The Evolution of a $144B Real Estate Empire: How the Hines Family Turned Their Houston Company into a Global Powerhouse
Willy Walker interviews Hines Chairman and CEO Jeff Hines and Senior Managing Director Laura Hines-Pierce to discuss real estate development, development trends, and how their family business grew from one office in Houston to the #globaldevelopment powerhouse it is today with $144 billion of assets under management.
00:56 - Celebrating the 1 year anniversary of Driven by Insight. 04:26 - Willy provides background on Hines and introduces guests Jeff and Laura Hines. 05:40 - How Jeff grew and expanded Hines as a business. 09:37 - The transition into asset management. 11:34 - Laura’s thoughts on the history and development of the Hines culture. 18:37 - In the Long Term: Why better designed buildings retain tenants. 20:45 - The value in focusing on environmentally friendly buildings. 26:54 - How Hines has navigated international expansion. 29:58 - The biggest challenges in maintaining the core culture of Hines. 33:49 - The challenges of sustaining growth during and after COVID-19. 36:55 - Technology: The importance of adapting to client’s needs. 40:24 - What are investors looking for? 42:35 - Multi-family vs. Single Family Rentals. 45:27 - The importance of global diversification and involvement. 47:40 - Lessons learned through the years as a family-operated business.
Listen to the full episode to find out how Jeff and Laura maintain a presence in 225 cities, 25 countries, and $144 billion of assets under management.
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Redefining the 'Old' Narrative: Rethinking What Baby Boomers REALLY Want
Will older adults cause a disruption in the economy as they continue to age? Willy Walker interviews Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin, Director of the MIT AgeLab, and author of "The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World's Fastest-Growing Most Misunderstood Market" this week, they discuss how 'oldness' is being redefined in terms of this demographic's impact on business and economic power.
Also discussed: 1. How businesses and society need to understand the needs and aspirations of #babyboomers and in turn tailor their goods and services to meet boomers' valuable and disruptive demographic’s needs 2. Product changes driven by older consumers hacking products not originally designed for them Dr. Coughlin also discusses his thoughts on how the idea of 'oldness' stifles business thinking and how to best serve baby boomers as a group of consumers, workers, and innovators.
0:55 - Willy summarizes the current state of the stock market. 6:00 - Willy introduces Dr. Joseph Coughlin. 8:22 - The key factors of longevity. 10:58 - How increasing life spans are affecting economies by country. 12:41 - Evolving demographics of the U.S. 15:05 - The dependency ratio. 19:00 - Progress of the modern world to combat early mortality. 21:42 - What are the opportunities in aging populations? 24:30 - How can businesses cater to the older population? 27:00 - Joseph discusses his experience working with Mercedes Benz and CVS. 34:30 - Why is the AgeLab focused on autonomous vehicles and where do we stand? 42:30 - The future of technology in helping the elderly age. 46:30 - How has the pandemic accelerated technology and senior care? 53:50 - Stitch: Connecting affinity-based groups. 57:00 - Joseph identifies a “screaming opportunity” and closing words.
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Will the US Housing Market Boom Continue through 2021? - CNBC's Diana Olick & Ivy Zelman discuss
Willy Walker interviews CNBC's Real Estate Correspondent Diana Olick and Ivy Zelman & Associate's CEO and Co-Founder Ivy where they discuss the housing boom and their analysis on single-family housing, multifamily, built for rent (BFR) and single-family rental (SFR).
They discuss achieving success in male-dominated industries, the effects of low inventory as it relates to the housing market and construction costs, migration trends and the potential return to cities, and the vast expansion of the single-family rental and build-for-rent spaces.
01:01 - Willy summarizes the contents of last week’s episode. 03:52 - Willy introduces Diana Olick. 04:50 - Willy introduces Ivy Zelman. 05:35 - Advice for women working in male-dominated industries. 13:38 - Diana weighs in on the state of the housing industry in 2020 18:53 - Ivy explains the tale of two markets. 20:12 - How soon can we expect people to return to major cities? 25:08 - Ivy discusses how the shift to remote work has influenced the housing industry. 26:26 - What to expect in the 2021 affordable housing market. 30:50 - Concerns over a lack of supply paired with high demand. 33:33 - The increased activity of single-family rental buyers. 41:26 - Shifts in trends of what influences homeownership. 43:51 - Inflation and other affordability walls hitting the housing industry. 50:59 - The first 3-D printed home in America. 56:31 - Peloton: The Merge of Fitness and Real Estate. 58:16 - Final Thoughts: Where would Ivy invest $100 million dollars in real estate? 59:26 - Preview for next week’s episode.
Listen in to find out Diana and Ivy’s projections of the housing market.
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How Property Technology is Changing the World of CRE
Willy Walker interviews Fifth Wall's Brendan Wallace and Camber Creek's Casey Berman to discuss how Property Technology is transforming the CRE space, in addition to the investments areas they are watching out for.
0:48 - Willy will speak today with two guests who are leading prop tech investors. 2:58 - To dive in, Willy runs through recent deals and asks about the pandemic. 6:02 - After responding to Brendan, Willy seeks Casey’s thoughts on tech in the prop industry. 12:09 - Using the example of selling Latch, Casey shares about SPAC and alternatives. 17:05 - Isn’t it all back to PMS systems and accounting systems? 18:43 - How can a huge business growth project be carried out in the prop tech space? 21:49 - There is a unique feature to real estate as an asset class. 24:18 - Willy requests Brendan’s thoughts about customer engagement. 32:54 - After Casey jumps in, Brendan returns to understanding the customer. 35:52 - Walker Dunlop offers a positive illustration. 37:02 - Willy wants to think about how organizations should navigate partnerships. 40:54 - Another dynamic involves problematic slowness to adopt tech. 43:03 - The venture ecosystem is already responding to the inevitable. 48:19 - After talking about industry convergence, Willy turns to the environment. 52:21 - The environment issue is huge, and both guests offer parting thoughts about it.
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Leadership and the traits of a true leader
Former Prologis CEO Walt Rakowich joined the Walker Webcast to discuss the leadership lessons outlined in his book "Transfluence: How to Lead with Transformative Influence in Today's Climates of Change" and his experience leading Prologis through the Great Recession.
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1:56 Willy introduces Walt 3:08 Willy discusses not being named CEO of Prologis 4:31 Background at Prologis 6:50 Organizational arrogance / warning signs 9:38 Having business coach to point out weaknesses 12:16 Importance of vulnerability 18:06 Leading by example as CEO 23:00 Courage to be transparent 27:31 Paradigm between fear and faith 35:08 Leaders must understand access, diversity, and acceleration 40:33 Companies must be specialized 41:57 Artificial Intelligence, technology, and unemployment 45:48 Fears of CEOs and what makes a great leader 53:29 Humility and courage
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0:56 - Willy shares how Walker & Dunlop was chosen as a Great Place to Work. 2:34 - Willy introduces his guests, Michael and Gary. 3:54 - Willy asks what makes a company great. 7:43 - Willy asks Gary about his work with McKinsey and his view of trust. 10:23 - Michael discusses why CISCO continues to be a Great Place to Work. 12:48 - How do you sustain being a great company over a long period of time. 19:13 - Willy asks how much a CEO influences an organization. 21:26 - Willy asks Michael if CEOs have leaned on employees to give good ratings. 25:52 - What converts fast growth to failure. 32:17 - Michael’s vision for the workplace in 2030. 38:23 - How can you be a great company without being trustworthy and fair on issues of diversity and inclusion. 41:38 - Organizations are more than the Org Chart. 47:29 - McKinsey’s culture after their settlement with Purdue Pharma. 54:19 - Why listening, humility, and constantly learning is imperative.
Trends and Evolutions that are Shaping Our World with Wharton Professor Mauro Guillén
Wharton Professor and author of “2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide And Reshape The Future Of Everything" Dr. Mauro Guillén joined the Walker Webcast to discuss the demographic shifts, automation trends, geopolitical and economic evolutions, and technological advancements that are shaping our world. Hosted by Willy Walker, Chairman & CEO of Walker & Dunlop.
1:02- Willy introduces Dr. Mauro Guillen. 2:49 - Mauro discusses the largest ways the world will change by 2030. 7:57 - Urban migration and water consumption. 12:07 - Dr. Guillen shares why we should be growing food in the cities. 13:50 - The American middle class and where the money is. 18:21 - The growing middle class in the developing world. 22:39 - Willy asks Dr. Guillen how we will care for our seniors in the future. 28:50 - Women in the workforce. 34:45 - Obesity and poverty in the developed world. 40:13 - Lateral thinking in companies. 45:52 - Willy asks Dr. Guillen about how the trucking industry will change by 2030. 51:43 - Crypto currency, blockchains, and energy consumption in the future.
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The Hospitality Industry is Recovering -- Here's Why
Stephanie Linnartz, Marriott's group president of consumer operations, discusses where the travel and leisure industry stands today and what is to come. Hosted by Willy Walker, Chairman & CEO of Walker & Dunlop.
1:10- Willy introduces Stephanie Linnartz. 2:25 - Stephanie describes her youth in the hospitality industry. 6:12 - Willy asks Stephanie about her work on the board of Home Depot. 9:19 - How does the hospitality industry come back? 15:31 - Willy and Stephanie discuss Marriott’s CEO and crisis management. 20:31 - From crisis comes creativity. 22:47 - Stephanie discusses job loss and rehiring post-pandemic. 27:24 - Willy and Stephanie discuss hotel rates and returning to travelling. 35:21 - Willy asks Stephanie specifics about the inner workings of the hotels and rewards Programs. 43:09 - Stephanie discusses Airbnb’s place in the hospitality industry. 46:41 - Willy asks what the difference of experience will be well after the pandemic is over.
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Top economist and former Wharton professor Dr. Peter Linneman analyzes the 2020 data and 2021 projections relative to the commerical real estate industry and macroeconomy. Hosted by Willy Walker, Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop.
1:19- Peter explains his analogy of COVID being like a butterfly’s flight path. 4:19 - Willy asks Peter about his take on Biden’s economic policies. 9:58 - Peter discusses unemployment and stimulus. 17:11 - Willy and Peter discuss the vaccine and going back to “normal.” 28:00 - Peter shares his thoughts on future investments post-pandemic. 35:46 - Peter and Willy discusses e-commerce vs. brick and mortar retail. 40:55 - Willy asks Peter about cities and office usage. 50:43 - Peter discusses multi vs. single housing
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In this episode of Driven by Insight, Willy Walker is joined by Aneel Bhusri, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Workday.
1:19- Aneel shares about his early life and the impact his family had on his career path. 6:22- Aneel shares about working at PeopleSoft and how Dave has mentored him. 9:55- Willy asks Aneel how he knew that he was not ready to run PeopleSoft. 11:31- Aneel talks about jumping back into PeopleSoft with Dave and how they helped revamp it. 14:45- Willy asks Aneel to share about his and Dave’s journey of starting Workplace. 17:49- Aneel talks about Workplace compared to SAP and Oracle from a software development standpoint. 22:00- Willy asks Aneel to talk about Workplace’s current competition with SAP and Oracle. 24:20- Aneel shares about Workplace’s unique mission in having a good work community. 27:14- Aneel talks about the difference between software development and data science groups and why there is a big emphasis on data science. 34:47- Willy asks Aneel about his two pieces of advice. 39:11- How do you know if a business problem really matters? 43:53- Aneel talks about joining the Giving Pledge and how his company encourages diversity and equality.
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In this episode, Willy interviews Elizabeth Concordia, the President and CEO of UCHealth. The topic for the conversation is arguably the timeliest topic of all: healthcare and COVID-19 vaccine development.
0:49 - Willy will talk about healthcare and COVID-19 vaccines with Elizabeth Concordia! 1:36 - How did Elizabeth respond to the storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine? 2:04 - Willy asks about the lowered number of people who say they want a vaccine. 3:51 - The conversation turns to complexities of vaccine administration. 4:15 - There are 73,000 COVID-patients in the US today - we’re in a surge! 6:15 - Has Elizabeth had issues with supplies? Why is testing still a problem? 8:21 - How is her employee base doing, and what are her retention rates right now? 9:39 - Are normal hospital operations back up and running? 11:03 - COVID-19 has altered the hospital business model. 14:34 - The conversation turns back to vaccine distribution challenges. 17:03 - The two talk vaccine differences, masks, and getting vaccines to rural areas. 20:01 - Elizabeth clarifies ordering of vaccine deployment and the need for a return to schools. 22:10 - Will we soon start to see problems because of treatment delays? 23:14 - There are mental health concerns to address, and listeners can help! 24:56 - Willy has two final questions. First, when will be get a vaccine? 26:59 - What’s the breaking point that could cause more shut downs?
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In this episode, Willy Walker interviews Kate Moore who is the managing director at BlackRock and head of Thematic Strategy. An expert in investments and markets, Kate spends time sharing her outlook for 2021 and beyond.
0:48- Willy introduces Kate Moore. 1:41- Willy asks Kate about accelerated economic restart. 5:00- Kate talk about turbo charged transformation in technology and healthcare. 6:34- Willy asks Kate about inflation in the economy. 9:30- Willy asks Kate about inflation in the market and manufacturing. 12:13- Kate shares her thought on the pandemic’s affects on unemployment rates. 16:05- What strategies will companies put in place as things reopen? 20:26- Kate shares about investments of consumers and markets. 23:45- Willy asks Kate about equity risks and defensive stocks. 26:45- What are structural changes and how are other companies practicing these changes? 30:15- Willy asks who the competitors for Black Rock are from a disruptors standpoint. 34:00- Willy asks Kate about the technology platform Black Rock uses. 39:17- Willy asks Kate about her view on international investment 44:57- Kate shares her favorite data sources she uses. 49:54- Willy asks Kate to share her journey of being a female Wall Street investor. 52:16- Kate speaks about ESG and sustainability. 56:04- Kate shares the book that has impacted her and her career.
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In this episode, Willy Walker is joined by Owen Thomas and Mark Parrell. Owen is CEO of Boston Properties, the largest developer and owner of Class A office properties and a top leader in sustainability. Mark is the CEO of Equity Residential, a company focused on the acquisition, management, and development of residential properties.
0:48- Willy introduces the guests. 3:10- Willy asks how the pandemic has affected the office sector. 6:01- Willy asks Owen to share his thoughts on when people will come back to the office and under what conditions. 10:28- Willy asks Mark about the cities’ ability to recover and return to vibrant life after the pandemic. 13:29- How has economic vibrancy in other areas caused movement from big cities? 16:55- How has the pandemic affected migration of urban dwellers to suburban dwellers? 19:48- Willy asks mark how EQR has managed the challenges of the California market during the pandemic. 26:45- Willy asks Mark how EQR is working with tenants in their rent payments and his thoughts on the new stimulus bill. 29:58- Owen and mark talk about Prop 15. 35:56- Are there bargains in the market place that Boston Housing offers? 40:25- What is EQR’s view on the overall market and are they actively looking for acquisitions? 43:02- Willy asks Owen to share his thoughts on shared offices in light of the pandemic. 49:40- Willy and Owen share about the importance of diversity and inclusion in commercial industries.
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In this episode, Willy interviews two experts in human interaction, emotional intelligence, and conflict management: Amy Gallo and Dr. Sigal Barsade. Author of HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, Amy Gallo is an expert in communication and conflict management. Dr. Sigal Barsade, a professor of management at Wharton Business School, is also an expert in her field of emotional intelligence, organizational culture, and team dynamics.
0:48- Willy introduces the episode and the guests. 2:26- Willy begins by asking the guests to share disappointment management tips. 11:00- Willy moves to looking at conflict and asks if conflict can be a good thing. 16:16- How do you directly address conflict and prepare for a conflict confrontation? 20:50- Sigal shares her expertise on emotional intelligence in handling conflict/confrontations. 25:29- Willy asks about the importance of identifying patterns in yourself and others in dealing with conflict. 31:02- Amy shares tips on how to deal with personality conflict. 35:19- Amy shares tips on how to deal with political conflict among family members. 39:50- Sigal expresses the importance of emotional norms in virtual world. 47:32- Sigal and Willy look at the importance of emotional intelligence in the corporate world.
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In this episode, Willy interviews Ivy Zelman, whose research, analysis, and advice concerning the housing market have earned her a formidable reputation as an analyst in the field.
Willy first asks Ivy how she would choose to invest a million dollars in the housing market. Ivy would take a sort of hybrid approach, investing in assets in Cleveland, OH, as well as in Boise, ID. (1:11-2:40) Willy’s interest in Ivy’s hometown extends into his next question, as he asks her to share her background. She describes how, through her father and her father’s line of work, she learned valuable principles of business savvy and weighing risk. (2:41-4:12) Moving forward, Ivy spent six years working through her undergrad, including working at Arthur Young during the day while she attended school at night. Colleagues recommended that she pursue work on Wall Street rather than in accounting, and she landed at Salomon Brothers in investment banking before eventually transitioning into equity research at the same company. (4:13-7:53) A hard-working analyst who built a strong network and was bold and willing to ask tough questions, Ivy speaks to how she set herself apart in her field. (7:54-10:25) In 2007, she, her husband, and Dennis McGill founded their startup, and Ivy explains the timing of the transition before turning to questions pertaining to the housing market. (10:26-12:50) Continuing their look to the past, Willy and Ivy consider some of Ivy’s housing projections from 2011-2013, which bore out in different ways in the ensuing years. (12:51-15:11) Moving to the present, Willy and Ivy discuss whether circumstances they’ve just discussed from the previous decade are similar or different to circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. (15:16-17:29) Ivy addresses the place of FHA loans, single-family credit availability, the COVID-inspired push for space and distance, dynamics of affordability, and rate projections. (17:30-22:28) The two discuss numbers pertaining to single- and multi-family home markets, and work through relevant factors of a decrease in urban living, the need to clear out a multi-family backlog, and questions of foreclosure. (22:29-34:28) Willy then draws attention to two shifts: the shift to remote working and a blue/red state shift. (34:29-43:40) As the conversation moves toward a close, Ivy speaks to current issues surrounding unemployment, risks to builders, and investment in workforce housing. (43:41-57:12)
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In this episode, Willy speaks with guests Bobby Turner and Chris Paul, focusing on their work pursuing social justice through Turner Impact Capital and other ventures.
0:48 - Willy shares who his guests will be, but wants to share a few things before the interview. 6:59 - Willy addresses Bobby, introducing him and asking about social impact investing. 11:45 - The conversation turns to Bobby’s first fund - way back in 1998! 14:56 - Bobby addresses the diversity of his team at Turner Impact. 17:01 - Willy asks Bobby to get into what his model provides at the property level. 24:38 - Chris enters the conversation, and Willy asks him about his partnership with Bobby. 26:53 - Chris talks about settling on a focus and working in cooperation. 31:10 - The current moment presents a unique opportunity. 34:31 - The group considers the application of the basketball model, as well as some stories. 41:58 - The conversation turns to education. 49:27 - Chris talks leadership in the Bubble, travel, and bowling.
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In this episode, Willy interviews Andy Florance, the Founder, Director, President, and CEO of CoStar Group, Inc. He and Willy have a spirited conversation about commercial real estate markets and what Andy and his organization are seeing today as they work the markets.
0:48 - Willy introduces the episode and his guest, Andy Florance. 1:12 - First, Willy wants to speak with John Rice. 2:22 - Willy asks for ideas on how to act and lead, and John details three. 8:18 - Willy explains some steps toward diversity Walker & Dunlop has taken. 13:32 - Turning to Andy, Willy starts the interview with a fun fact! 15:01 - What was the genesis of Realty Info Group? 17:22 - Why the name change to CoStar? 18:52 - Andy fields a question from Brian Coulter about Jeff Goldblum. 21:37 - What’s been the biggest driver of CoStar’s success? 25:39 - Andy focuses not only on data, but also on community and standards. 28:45 - Willy asks about acquisitions and asset classes, starting with LoopNet and office space. 35:45 - Next, Willy turns to Apartments.com and the asset class of apartments. 49:29 - The two consider hospitality and STR. 53:34 - Finally, Willy introduces Ten-X and its work in online property sales.
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In this episode, Willy speaks with guest Glenn Youngkin. Glenn was Co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C.-based global investment management firm.
0:48 - Willy shares who his guests will be, but wants to share a few things before the interview. 10:48 - Willy introduces guest Glenn Youngkin and asks how he ended up at the Carlyle Group. 16:56 - Glenn discusses where he sees the economy and upcoming opportunities. 20:24 - What can the Asia model tell us about US recovery? 34:14 - Willy asks Glenn about investing in energy. 44:54 - Glenn discusses The Carlyle Group’s ESG leadership. 50:44 - Willy asks Glenn about economic inflation.
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When Investment Opportunities Might Present Themeselves, According to Starwood Capital Group CEO
Willy Walker, President and CEO of Walker & Dunlop, talks with the CEO of Starwood Capital Group, Barry Sternlicht during this installment of Walker Webcast. Willy and Barry discuss the CRE market’s performance, asset class performance across Starwood’s vast holdings and investments, the path forward for our country and economy, and where and when investment opportunities could present themselves.
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In this episode, Willy speaks with guest Mary Erdoes, Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan Chase's Asset & Wealth Management line of business.
0:48 - Willy shares who his guests will be, but wants to share a few things before the interview. 5:08 - Willy introduces Mary and asks her to compare her duties a year ago to today in the pandemic. 13:44 - Mary talks about JPMorgan’s economic forecast. 21:52 - China is handling reopening very differently than America, Willy and Mary discuss the differences. 27:15 - Mary and Willy discuss how to fight work from home and Zoom fatigue. 34:08 - Mary explains how JPMorgan is gathering and analyzing COVID data. 43:05 - Willy wonders what it’s like working for JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. 49:51 - Mary shares where she and JPMorgan are looking for opportunities.
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