Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities

This week, we share a glass of Chardonnay with Tere, whose life has taken her from Havana to the heart of Miami's commercial real estate world. Her story begins in Cuba, followed by childhood in Puerto Rico and high school in Venezuela. After graduating from the University of Miami, she entered the world of sales, where she discovered her passion for CRE. Tere honed her skills at Codina Realt...

Jennifer Sanz joined us for a rum & coke and a lively conversation about affordable housing and her journey through politics and real estate development. From her early days at the Pentagon to leading Florida Housing Finance Corporations's tax credit program, Jennifer brings a wealth of experience from both public policy and affordable housing development. Her career began after her dream...

Gopal Rajegowda joined us on The Built World Podcast for a Negroni and a fascinating conversation about his stellar career with Related Companies. As a first-generation Indian-American, Gopal’s journey began in a New York City suburb before taking him to Cornell University. While his passion for real estate and architecture sparked early, it truly ignited during his time at Columbia University, wh...

This week we popped open a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and took a walk down memory lane with Donna Abood, a true powerhouse in the real estate world. With over 40 years of experience, Donna’s journey is as inspiring as it is impressive. Real estate runs in her veins—her father was a developer in St. Petersburg, but Donna carved her own path. After graduating from FSU, she made the bold move to Miami...

Born and raised in Miami Beach, Russell’s roots run deep, with his grandparents settling on the beach in the 1920s—making the Galbut family a true Miami Beach institution. He takes us through his early days building multi-family apartments on the beach and reflects on how he co-founded Crescent Heights in 1989. Under his leadership, the company has gone on to develop iconic projects in major U.S....

In this episode Sydne joins us for a masterclass on affordable housing development—served with a glass of Rosé! Real estate development runs through Sydne’s veins, and she takes us back to her roots—tagging along with her father on site visits in Maryland. From there, she moved to Los Angeles and took on the role of Director of Operations at Standard Property Company, where she led the development...

Miami native Stephen Bittel joined us on the podcast, bringing not just his insights but a vintage 1996 bottle of Clos Lascombes to share. Stephen’s story begins with his roots in South Florida, graduating from Palmetto High before heading north to Bowdoin College in Maine. Post-graduation, he explored Europe on a Thomas Watson Fellowship, but his return to Miami marked the start of a remarkable c...

In this episode, we're joined by the one and only Lyle Stern—a true gentleman and an absolute legend in the Miami Beach retail scene. For over 40 years, Lyle has been the driving force behind transforming Miami Beach into a shopping mecca, bringing iconic brands like H&M, Brandy Melville, J.Crew, Banana Republic, Ted Baker, and Victoria’s Secret to its vibrant streets. But his journey was...

When it comes to Miami real estate legends, Don Soffer is in a league of his own. At a lively 93 years old, Don joined us for a vodka on the rocks and a journey through his epic career. From building shopping malls in Pittsburgh to snapping up 786 acres of swamp in 1967, Don and his father transformed that patch of Florida wilderness into what we now know as Aventura. Together, they drained, rezon...

Iris joined us on the podcast, and she didn’t come empty-handed—she brought a bottle of Elijah Craig Bourbon! As we sipped, Iris took us on a journey through Miami's evolving landscape, blending her passion for bourbon with her expertise in land use and the Miami 21 zoning code. A true 305 native, Iris shared her story, from her roots in South Miami to becoming the co-chair of Greenberg Traur...

In this episode, we dive deep with Eddie, a seasoned real estate professional renowned for his success in acquiring and developing warehouses in South Florida. His journey is nothing short of remarkable—just after college, he faced the brink of bankruptcy but managed to pivot his career with the invaluable guidance of mentors who recognized his potential. Starting out brokering land deals in Brick...

In this episode, we pop open a bottle of Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont and dive into the wild, unconventional journey of Zak Stern—better known as Zak the Baker. From naked retreats in Georgia's Hostel in the Forest to goat milking adventures in Italy and Israel, and learning the art of bread-making in an Italian castle, Zak’s story is nothing short of inspiring. Now, as the mastermind behind...

In this episode, we pop open a bottle of Rosé with Marcia, founder of Power Collective, as she shares insights from her 20+ years of shaping Miami's real estate narrative. Marcia has worked with Miami’s top developers, including The Related Group, Fortune International Group, and Terra Group, helping them craft compelling stories that highlight Miami’s rise as a global destination. From the e...

Nelson joined us for a couple of cocktails and took us on a journey through his 30-year career selling luxury real estate in Miami Beach. Back in the '90s, when the area was still flying under the radar, Nelson hustled his way to becoming the go-to agent for Miami’s waterfront gems—think Star Island, North Bay Road, and beyond. From selling homes to the likes of Cher and Billy Joel to develop...

In this episode, we kick back with gin and tonics and chat with the one and only Avra Jain—former NYC bartender turned Wall Street broker, now a powerhouse developer. Avra, the visionary behind Miami’s Vagabond Group, shares her journey of transforming forgotten properties into vibrant, community-centered spaces. From her work on the iconic Vagabond Motel to her passion for adaptive reuse and sust...

In this episode, we’re thrilled to have world-renowned architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, co-founder of Arquitectonica, join us for a captivating conversation. Bernardo and his firm didn’t just help put Miami on the global architecture map—they’ve practically designed the map themselves. No architect has shaped Miami’s iconic skyline more, working alongside the city’s most accomplished developers. W...

In this inspiring episode, we sip cocktails with Tim and Alan, whose 30-year partnership has left a transformative mark on Ft. Lauderdale and Tallahasse. It all began in the early '90s when they started acquiring properties in the quiet Las Olas area, breathing new life into the neighborhood by operating restaurants and bars. From there, they pioneered micro-unit loft apartments in downtown F...

Juan Arias, Director of Market Analytics for CoStar Group, is back with the Gridline Properties team to break down what’s really going on in the 305’s commercial real estate market. Think of it as a data deep dive—minus the boring parts. With a couple of cocktails in hand on a Friday afternoon, we dive into the Fed's recent announcement on those inevitable rate cuts. Will they light a fire un...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Jonny, who made the trip from London to Miami for a couple of glasses of Woodford Reserve bourbon and a deep dive into his company’s ambitious expansion into the US market. Founded in 2015 with a $400,000 seed round, LandTech has rapidly become a go-to platform for researching land development opportunities across the UK.  Backed by notable investors like...

Michael joined us on the podcast, Tequila Ocho in hand, kicking off the conversation with plenty of laughs as we dove into the world of Miami’s "Retail King." From bringing Gap to South Beach in the mid '90s to selling an entire block on Lincoln Road for a staggering $370 million in 2015, Michael has truly mastered the retail game.  A passionate urbanist, Michael invests in vibrant,...

In this episode we sat down with the one and only Brian Gale from Cushman and Wakefield to dive deep into Miami's Class A office leasing market. But let's be honest—this wasn’t just your typical real estate chat. We cracked open a bottle of tequila, and the conversation took off like a South Beach happy hour! With a couple of glasses in, the laughs were flowing as freely as the tequila....

In this episode, we sip dirty vodka martinis with Miami real estate legend Allen Morris, CEO and Chairman of the Allen Morris Company. With nearly 45 years in the industry, Allen offers a deep dive into what it takes to build a lasting legacy in Miami's competitive real estate market. We discuss the challenges and successes of leading one of the Southeast's most respected development fir...

In this episode, we are joined by Kona Gray, Principal at EDSA, for a delightful conversation over gin & tonics and plenty of laughs. Kona shares insights from his remarkable 27-year career at EDSA, an internationally acclaimed landscape architecture firm. Growing up in Liberia with an architect father, Kona was immersed in design from an early age. His experiences attending an international s...

Join us as we sit down with Alan, sharing a glass of Rioja and delving into his remarkable journey. Growing up in Madrid, Paris, and Ireland, Alan's diverse background laid the foundation for an extraordinary career. After college, Alan enlisted in the Spanish army, commanding a tank unit. In the early 80s, he ventured to Miami, where he launched his real estate career by constructing a 44,00...

We had the privilege of sitting down with Victor Dover, one of the world’s most acclaimed urban planners, for an insightful conversation about his remarkable career and the art of designing vibrant and walkable communities.  Victor, a leading advocate of New Urbanism, has played a pivotal role in planning hundreds of mixed-use projects globally. His firm, Dover, Kohl & Partners, is renowned fo...