ULI Global Chief Executive Officer W. Edward Walter is the featured thought leader in the latest edition of “Leading Voices in Real Estate,” a biweekly podcast hosted by ULI member Matthew Slepin, founder and managing director of Terra Search Partners LLC, a national executive search firm dedicated to the real estate industry.
In the April 8 podcast, Walter reflects on his early years in real estate with Trammell Crow Residential; his service as chief financial officer and chief executive officer for Host Hotels and Resorts Inc.; why real estate continues to attract the best and brightest; and what he believes distinguishes ULI from other real estate organizations:
- On leading Host Hotels and Resorts: “When you step into the CEO role, you have to figure out how to work through the rest of your team and be focused on the short-term issues while being more thoughtful about the long-term direction of the company.”
- On choosing real estate as a career: “You cannot be narrowly focused in the real estate business and be successful. . . . My advice to a young person [entering the real estate profession] is don’t be afraid to look at lateral opportunities. Making certain the ladder is broader can help you [progress]. You need diverse experiences to make the right decisions.”
- On ULI: “I don’t know of any other organization where you can reside your entire career. ULI provides opportunities for people to connect with each other and share ideas. . . . The strength of ULI is its ability to access all the work our members are doing around the world, and bring that together in a way that members can share with each other and learn from each other.”
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