Leading Voices in Real Estate

Matt Slepin sits down with Bill Stein, former CEO of Digital Realty Trust and current partner at Primary Digital Infrastructure, for a wide-ranging conversation about the rapid evolution of the data center industry and its increasingly important role in the AI economy.
Drawing on decades of experience in digital infrastructure, Bill provides historical context on the sector’s transformation from a relatively niche real estate business into one of the most closely watched areas of investment and development. Matt and Bill explore how the AI arms race is driving unprecedented demand for new data centers—and with it, enormous requirements for energy, infrastructure, capital, and talent.
The conversation also examines the growing tension surrounding data center development, from local opposition and energy consumption to broader questions about AI’s impact on society. As communities grapple with the physical infrastructure required to support AI, data centers have increasingly become a tangible focal point for much larger debates about technology, climate, economic growth, and the future.
Recorded during Leading Voices in Real Estate’s Climate Month, the episode offers perspective on one of the built environment’s biggest emerging challenges: how to support the extraordinary growth of AI while navigating its equally extraordinary demands on energy, communities, and human capital.

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin speaks with Mike McNamara, co-founder and CEO of Samara, an innovative homebuilder focused on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and small-scale infill housing. A company incubated within Airbnb's venture arm, Samara is rethinking how factory-built homes can help address both the housing shortage and climate challenges.
Mike shares how his experience leading global manufacturing company Flex shaped Samara's approach to scalable, high-quality home production, and discusses why smaller, neighborhood-based development can play an important role alongside larger multifamily projects. As part of Leading Voices' annual Climate Month series, the conversation explores the intersection of housing, sustainability, and the future of the built environment.

In this special rebroadcast of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin revisits his 2017 conversation with acclaimed architect Phil Freelon of Perkins & Will, one of the lead designers of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Recorded shortly after the museum’s opening, the conversation reflects on Phil’s vision, impact, and legacy during a deeply personal time as he battled ALS.
Revisited during a recent Fourth of July, this episode offers a thoughtful look back at a moment when national landmarks like the National Mall and institutions like the Smithsonian served as powerful symbols of unity. Phil’s insights on architecture, culture, and purpose remain as relevant today as ever.

In this podcast episode, Matt Slepin speaks with Darrell Crate, CEO of Easterly Government Properties, about the company’s differentiated investment strategy as a net lease REIT focused on mission-critical properties leased to U.S. government agencies. While often associated with traditional office and the DC market, Easterly’s portfolio tells a different story, with limited office exposure and a broader geographic footprint. Crate shares his perspective on the company’s positioning between underperforming office REITs and strong net lease peers, highlighting a potential pricing mismatch and investment opportunity. The conversation also touches on the role of outsourcing in government real estate, market perceptions of stability, and Easterly’s broader mission to support and improve government operations.

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with retiring Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration Dean Kate Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving role of hospitality within real estate and business leadership. Recorded during Walsh’s final month as Dean, the discussion explores Cornell’s outsized influence on the global hotel industry and the powerful network and culture that have shaped generations of hospitality leaders.
The episode goes beyond hotels to examine how hospitality principles—service, operations, resident experience, and organizational culture—are increasingly influencing other real estate sectors, especially multifamily housing. Slepin connects these themes to broader industry shifts toward operational excellence, technology integration, and customer-centric leadership. Drawing on both personal travel experiences and professional insights from executive recruiting at ZRG, the conversation highlights why hospitality mindsets are becoming essential across the real estate landscape.