Welcome to Leaders in Real Estate! I’m Nick Carman, and in this episode, I sit down with Megan Creecy-Herman, President of Prologis’ U.S. West Region. Megan oversees a staggering $55 billion in assets, 260 million square feet of industrial real estate, and leads a team of 220 professionals.

We dive deep into leadership lessons, career growth, and how to thrive in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous). Megan shares her journey from influencing without authority to leading one of the largest portfolios in the industry.

If you’re a future leader in real estate this conversation is packed with actionable insights on building trust, giving feedback, and staying resilient under pressure.

Highlights

How Megan discovered leadership early in her career

Leading without authority and building trust

Why listening beats talking for effective leadership

The traits Megan looks for in future leaders

Mistakes that taught her the most

How to stay calm in high-pressure environments

Recommended resources for leadership growth

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro

01:00 – Megan’s role at Prologis and scope of responsibility

03:00 – First experiences with leadership & influencing without authority

07:00 – Listening vs. talking: A leadership superpower

09:00 – Lessons from challenging bosses & evolving leadership styles

11:00 – How Megan reignites passion in her team

14:00 – Creating a culture of personal development

15:00 – Leading in a VUCA world

18:00 – Handling resistance to growth and feedback

19:00 – Biggest mistakes and lessons learned

21:00 – Traits Megan looks for in future leaders

23:00 – Steepest learning curve in her career

26:00 – Megan’s top leadership resources & book recommendations

27:00 – Current challenges as a senior leader

29:00 – Staying calm under pressure: Resilience strategies

31:00 – Traits Megan had to let go as she climbed the ladder

33:00 – Looking ahead: Personal and corporate goals

35:00 – Market outlook and Prologis’ next phase

36:00 – Closing thoughts

In this episode, I sit down with Todd Carter, Managing Director - Southeast for EQT Real Estate, who oversees acquisitions, development, and leasing across the Southeast. Todd has more than twenty five years in the industrial sector and has been involved in over one hundred million square feet of transactions. I wanted to understand how that volume of experience shaped his leadership approach, and Todd delivered with complete honesty, humour, and depth.We talk about early career discipline, tough mentors, stress, mistakes, and the unexpected moments that shaped him. Todd explains why he still loves being in the deal flow today and shares the traits he looks for in the next generation of leaders. This is a practical, candid mentoring session packed with lessons for anyone serious about building a real estate career.Key Moments & Timestamps00:00 I welcome listeners to the episodeI introduce the show and set the stage for a leadership focused conversation with Todd.00:55 Todd’s role at EQTTodd gives an overview of the Southeast region and the one hundred million square foot portfolio he’s responsible for.02:00 When leadership first found himTodd shares how he began leading long before he ever held a formal title.03:45 Why waiting for a promotion is a mistakeWe talk about seizing responsibility early and how that creates opportunity.04:15 What drove Todd in the early daysTodd gives an honest answer: money. We unpack how that shaped his early work ethic.05:00 Early leadership challengesHe explains the resistance he faced, especially around age and credibility.06:40 How he overcame those barriersTodd talks about results, consistency, and treating people with respect.08:00 The mentors who shaped himFrom Wall Street work ethic to industrial fundamentals, Todd’s early mentors left a big mark.10:20 Learning to think through the dealTodd explains why accountability and ownership sharpened his decision making.12:45 What he chose not to adoptWe discuss the traits he saw in leaders above him that he refused to carry forward.16:00 Mistakes that shaped himTodd reframes mistakes as learning, not something to haunt you.17:50 The capital call lessonHe tells the story of a painful early ownership experience that changed his perspective forever.20:00 What colleagues say about himI share insights from my research, including his reputation for a calm, lighthearted style.21:45 How he manages stress todayTodd talks about humour, staying grounded, and avoiding premature panic.24:00 The “Todd style”We explore why composure and humility often outperform loud leadership.25:30 Joining EQT with a big reputationTodd describes the pressure of coming in as a major hire and how he handled it.28:50 Leading by exampleWhy simply doing the work and producing results won people over.30:00 What Todd looks for in future leadersHe explains why he focuses on how people treat others.32:00 What drives him nowStill motivated by money, but now also by meaning, fun, and paying it forward.33:30 Why he still works dealsTodd explains why staying close to the action keeps him sharp.35:00 His advice for future leadersThis business isn’t complicated, but it is tough. Stay disciplined and pay it forward.36:00 Wrapping upI close the episode and reflect on the insights Todd shared.

In this episode, Nick sits down with Stephanie Lynch, CIO and CFO of Student Quarters. Stephanie leads the firm’s investment and capital raising strategy and has executed more than $4.5 billion in debt and equity across domestic and offshore markets.Stephanie shares formative leadership moments, the lessons she carried forward and the ones she intentionally left behind, and how fear of failure shaped her resilience. She also opens up about a dramatic moment early in her time at Student Quarters when a corporate partner collapsed just four days into her tenure, forcing her to navigate a complete recapitalization.This conversation explores what drives her to outperform expectations, how she approaches negotiation, and the attributes she looks for in future leaders. Stephanie also reflects on mistakes that shaped her communication style, the dangers of chasing short term wins, and the personal and professional milestones she’s excited about next.We covered:The leadership traits she adopted from mentors and the ones she chose not to carry forwardHer approach to negotiation and the tools she relies on in high pressure situationsWhat drives her to exceed expectations and outperform peersLessons from crisis moments and why communication is central to her leadershipHow she evaluates rising leaders and the qualities she hires forResources and books she recommends for developing critical thinking and adaptabilityChapters00:00 Welcome and introduction to Stephanie Lynch01:00 Stephanie’s role and responsibilities at Student Quarters02:00 Early leadership experiences and being thrown in early03:00 Feeling unprepared at first and learning to rise to the occasion04:00 Fear of failure, persistence, and letting go of the need for yes06:00 Mentorship influences and shaping her leadership style07:00 Communicating hard things and navigating difficult conversations09:00 Outworking and outsmarting peers and influences from her music background11:30 The corporate crisis four days into her new role13:30 Considering quitting and why she ultimately stayed14:30 Drawing on financial crisis experience to stabilize Student Quarters16:00 The recapitalization challenge and finding the right partner18:00 Her negotiation approach creativity, communication, persistence20:00 Mistakes that changed how she communicates risk and strategy23:00 What she looks for in future leaders24:00 Curiosity, communication, and embracing change26:00 Negative drivers to avoid and the danger of short term wins27:00 Recommended reading: Adam Grant and The Widow Clicquot30:00 Is leadership worth it reflecting on meaning and motivation31:00 Corporate milestones and future goals for Student Quarters33:00 Launching Fund II and preparing for new investor opportunities34:00 Personal goals travel, music, and exploring yoga teacher training35:00 Closing thoughts and gratitude