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Sam Schneider

Inside Deal

A Careers , Business and Management podcast

#20 in Careers · 🇿🇦 #71 in Careers · 🇮🇳
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About the show

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build something extraordinary — not from a textbook, but from the trenches — this is The Inside Deal Podcast. Sam Schneider, Managing Partner at Imperium Capital, sits down with the operators, investors, entrepreneurs, and dealmakers who've built remarkable careers and businesses from the inside out. Real estate is in our DNA, but the conversations go far beyond it — because the principles behind great deals, great companies, and great careers are universal. These aren't surface-level conversations about headlines or hype. They're real stories about risk, resilience, relationships, and the decisions that changed everything. From launching firms in the aftermath of the financial crisis, to building billion-dollar platforms across industries, to navigating massive pivots and coming back stronger after failure — these conversations are candid, tactical, and deeply human. This show is for ambitious people who want to understand how great careers and great businesses are actually built. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, operator, student, or just fascinated by high-stakes decision making, you'll hear the lessons that rarely make it into conference panels or social media posts. You'll learn how exceptional people think through uncertainty, build trust, raise capital, spot opportunities others miss, and create relationships that compound over decades.

Newest episodes

Eric Brody on Losing Everything, Starting Over, and Finding a New Way to Win

54 min

In this episode of Inside Deal, host Sam Schneider sits down with developer and builder Eric Brody to trace his path from Brooklyn to the University of Wisconsin to a career constructing more than 40 buildings in New York. Brody describes how a $15 million personal judgment, triggered by a UCC foreclosure during the pandemic, forced him to rebuild from scratch. The conversation covers the practical lessons of development and construction, the mental discipline needed to survive financial distress, and how content and technology now shape his business. Brody also shares what he would tell students entering the workforce today. They discuss: - How night construction classes, his father's architecture office, and weekend brokering taught Brody the full development process - Why self-certifying a mezzanine led to a Department of Buildings audit and the removal of a floor - The difference between gross construction contracts and annual revenue, and how Brody grew a builder's business into a partnership - How a UCC foreclosure on a 48-unit condo building led to a $15 million personal guarantee, and the after action report he used to learn from it - The three skills Brody recommends for graduates: taking risk, mastering the attention economy, and learning to program Inside Deal listeners in real estate, construction, and entrepreneurship will find candid lessons on resilience and a practical roadmap for rebuilding after a major setback. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:06) - The $15 million personal judgment(00:02:34) - Brooklyn to Wisconsin to Equinox(00:05:45) - Learning development from the ground up(00:07:43) - The first deal and the zoning inefficiency(00:13:33) - Surviving '08 and becoming a builder(00:19:21) - When Covid hit the 96th Street condo(00:26:19) - Foreclosure and the judgment on the door(00:29:06) - Hunting trip and the after action report(00:32:32) - From venture fund to rescue capital platform(00:41:32) - Building a content engine(00:44:11) - Lessons fr...

How to Be Impossible to Ignore | Global Head of Alternative Investments at J.P. Morgan Private Bank – Kristin Kallergis Rowland

48 min

On this episode of Inside Deal, host Sam Schneider sits down with Kristin Kallergis Rowland, who leads the alternatives group at JPMorgan's private bank, to trace the path from her first job out of college to running a global business. Kristin explains what alternative investments are, how her team moved a billion dollars from clients in eight days during the March 2020 market dislocation, and what she learned working across Europe and the Middle East. The conversation also revisits her years as a Big Ten student athlete, the coaches who shaped her, and how she built community around a deeply personal fertility journey. Throughout, Sam and Kristin return to the same idea: taking on the work no one else wants can quietly compound into a career. They discuss: - How alternatives differ from the traditional 60/40 portfolio, and why private equity, private credit, and real estate have grown so quickly - The structure behind the 2020 tech investment that carried no management fee and returned capital after a year - What living and working in London taught Kristin about cultural differences, multigenerational wealth, and communicating with clients - How a candid, curiosity-driven interview landed her first job at JPMorgan despite a below-average GPA - Why she gravitates toward managers with a chip on their shoulder, and how she turned a private struggle into a firmwide fertility discussion that drew 1,700 attendees Anyone early in a finance career, curious about private markets, or looking for a model of how to build a support system through setbacks will find practical takeaways in this episode of Inside Deal. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:40) - Culture shock moving to London(00:06:33) - Finding her footing at JPMorgan alts(00:07:37) - What alternatives actually are(00:12:27) - The March 2020 tech trade(00:18:00) - Walking on to the golf team at Illinois(00:23:17) - Carrying coaching lessons into JPMorgan(00:26:00) - Cold emails and the interview that landed i...

Ben Schneider: Betting on Yourself and Defining Success on Your Own Terms

1 hr 11 min

Sam Schneider and Ben Schneider explore the pivotal decisions that shaped Ben's journey from options trader to successful private equity entrepreneur. Ben shares how he turned down a $400,000 salary at Goldman Sachs to take a $100,000 role at IMAX, a choice that ultimately set the foundation for launching his own firm. The conversation traces his path from Harvard Business School through deal-making challenges, creative financing strategies, and the deliberate choices he made about work-life balance at age 40. They discuss: - How a final conversation with IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond convinced Ben to follow passion over guaranteed money - The creative financing structure that allowed Ben to buy a $20 million company with just $200,000 of personal capital - Why taking every meeting matters, including the Father's Day weekend meeting that became their first major deal - The decision to turn down raising a private equity fund in order to prioritize family during critical years with young children - Why thinking in five-year increments produces better career decisions than rigid long-term planning This episode from Inside Deal offers practical lessons on structuring lower middle market deals, building a proprietary network, and defining success beyond financial outcomes for anyone navigating entrepreneurship or career transitions. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:43) - Graduating HBS without a job(00:05:02) - The $400K Goldman offer vs. IMAX assistant role(00:08:50) - Rich Gelfond's pitch changes everything(00:13:33) - Susquehanna's unconventional interview process(00:15:34) - Five years in Chicago trading options(00:18:17) - Realizing the need for business school(00:20:18) - Why your network is everything at HBS(00:24:50) - Three years at IMAX: a crash course in business(00:26:51) - The SkyCam deal(00:38:55) - The Father's Day lead that changed everything(00:41:38) - Structuring the first deal with almost no equity(00:45:28) - The power of LinkedIn and shooting your...

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All episodes

Eric Brody on Losing Everything, Starting Over, and Finding a New Way to Win

54 min

In this episode of Inside Deal, host Sam Schneider sits down with developer and builder Eric Brody to trace his path from Brooklyn to the University of Wisconsin to a career constructing more than 40 buildings in New York. Brody describes how a $15 million personal judgment, triggered by a UCC foreclosure during the pandemic, forced him to rebuild from scratch. The conversation covers the practical lessons of development and construction, the mental discipline needed to survive financial distress, and how content and technology now shape his business. Brody also shares what he would tell students entering the workforce today. They discuss: - How night construction classes, his father's architecture office, and weekend brokering taught Brody the full development process - Why self-certifying a mezzanine led to a Department of Buildings audit and the removal of a floor - The difference between gross construction contracts and annual revenue, and how Brody grew a builder's business into a partnership - How a UCC foreclosure on a 48-unit condo building led to a $15 million personal guarantee, and the after action report he used to learn from it - The three skills Brody recommends for graduates: taking risk, mastering the attention economy, and learning to program Inside Deal listeners in real estate, construction, and entrepreneurship will find candid lessons on resilience and a practical roadmap for rebuilding after a major setback. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:06) - The $15 million personal judgment(00:02:34) - Brooklyn to Wisconsin to Equinox(00:05:45) - Learning development from the ground up(00:07:43) - The first deal and the zoning inefficiency(00:13:33) - Surviving '08 and becoming a builder(00:19:21) - When Covid hit the 96th Street condo(00:26:19) - Foreclosure and the judgment on the door(00:29:06) - Hunting trip and the after action report(00:32:32) - From venture fund to rescue capital platform(00:41:32) - Building a content engine(00:44:11) - Lessons fr...

How to Be Impossible to Ignore | Global Head of Alternative Investments at J.P. Morgan Private Bank – Kristin Kallergis Rowland

48 min

On this episode of Inside Deal, host Sam Schneider sits down with Kristin Kallergis Rowland, who leads the alternatives group at JPMorgan's private bank, to trace the path from her first job out of college to running a global business. Kristin explains what alternative investments are, how her team moved a billion dollars from clients in eight days during the March 2020 market dislocation, and what she learned working across Europe and the Middle East. The conversation also revisits her years as a Big Ten student athlete, the coaches who shaped her, and how she built community around a deeply personal fertility journey. Throughout, Sam and Kristin return to the same idea: taking on the work no one else wants can quietly compound into a career. They discuss: - How alternatives differ from the traditional 60/40 portfolio, and why private equity, private credit, and real estate have grown so quickly - The structure behind the 2020 tech investment that carried no management fee and returned capital after a year - What living and working in London taught Kristin about cultural differences, multigenerational wealth, and communicating with clients - How a candid, curiosity-driven interview landed her first job at JPMorgan despite a below-average GPA - Why she gravitates toward managers with a chip on their shoulder, and how she turned a private struggle into a firmwide fertility discussion that drew 1,700 attendees Anyone early in a finance career, curious about private markets, or looking for a model of how to build a support system through setbacks will find practical takeaways in this episode of Inside Deal. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:40) - Culture shock moving to London(00:06:33) - Finding her footing at JPMorgan alts(00:07:37) - What alternatives actually are(00:12:27) - The March 2020 tech trade(00:18:00) - Walking on to the golf team at Illinois(00:23:17) - Carrying coaching lessons into JPMorgan(00:26:00) - Cold emails and the interview that landed i...

Ben Schneider: Betting on Yourself and Defining Success on Your Own Terms

1 hr 11 min

Sam Schneider and Ben Schneider explore the pivotal decisions that shaped Ben's journey from options trader to successful private equity entrepreneur. Ben shares how he turned down a $400,000 salary at Goldman Sachs to take a $100,000 role at IMAX, a choice that ultimately set the foundation for launching his own firm. The conversation traces his path from Harvard Business School through deal-making challenges, creative financing strategies, and the deliberate choices he made about work-life balance at age 40. They discuss: - How a final conversation with IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond convinced Ben to follow passion over guaranteed money - The creative financing structure that allowed Ben to buy a $20 million company with just $200,000 of personal capital - Why taking every meeting matters, including the Father's Day weekend meeting that became their first major deal - The decision to turn down raising a private equity fund in order to prioritize family during critical years with young children - Why thinking in five-year increments produces better career decisions than rigid long-term planning This episode from Inside Deal offers practical lessons on structuring lower middle market deals, building a proprietary network, and defining success beyond financial outcomes for anyone navigating entrepreneurship or career transitions. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:43) - Graduating HBS without a job(00:05:02) - The $400K Goldman offer vs. IMAX assistant role(00:08:50) - Rich Gelfond's pitch changes everything(00:13:33) - Susquehanna's unconventional interview process(00:15:34) - Five years in Chicago trading options(00:18:17) - Realizing the need for business school(00:20:18) - Why your network is everything at HBS(00:24:50) - Three years at IMAX: a crash course in business(00:26:51) - The SkyCam deal(00:38:55) - The Father's Day lead that changed everything(00:41:38) - Structuring the first deal with almost no equity(00:45:28) - The power of LinkedIn and shooting your...

Data Centers: How a $110B Firm Finds Its Next Bet | Joey Lansing

57 min

Joey Lansing and Sam Schneider explore the evolution of alternative real estate investing on Inside Deal, tracing Joey's path from real estate attorney to managing over $110 billion in assets at Harrison Street. Joey shares how his firm identified emerging opportunities in data centers, starting with an unexpected hospital transaction in 2017 that opened the door to digital infrastructure. The conversation examines Harrison Street's disciplined approach to evaluating new asset classes and why they focus on sectors less correlated to traditional economic cycles. They discuss: - How powered shell data centers generate development returns while mitigating power procurement risk - Why owning dark fiber networks through Summit iG created an informational advantage for site selection - The missing middle opportunity in 10-30 megawatt data centers that larger developers overlook - How carrier hotels function as monopolistic infrastructure assets controlling internet interconnection - The minder-finder-grinder framework for career success and why relationship cultivation cannot be replaced by AI This episode offers a master class in contrarian positioning and active career management for anyone pursuing opportunities in institutional real estate. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:27) - Entering the data center business accidentally (00:05:12) - Learning what made data centers mission-critical (00:06:43) - Moving into powered shell development (00:10:10) - Investing in dark fiber networks (00:14:58) - Owning carrier hotels and the data ecosystem (00:18:11) - How the data center business changed with AI (00:19:42) - Power access as the gating issue (00:21:53) - Focusing on the missing middle segment (00:27:17) - Evaluating new asset classes (00:32:50) - Joey's path from law school to real estate (00:34:34) - Lessons from the savings and loan crisis (00:37:24) - Premium seating and the stadium business (00:40:44) - Betting on yourself and changing careers (00:41:59) - Overcomi...

How an NYC Mom with 20 Years in Television Became a m Major NYC Real Estate Developer

1 hr 1 min

Sam Schneider and Dana Lowey explore the path from television journalism to real estate development on Inside Deal. Lowey shares how she transitioned from a 20-year career in broadcasting to becoming a New York City developer, starting with a leveraged spec house in 2010 and building a portfolio that spans luxury condos, townhouses, and multifamily properties. The conversation examines her unconventional entry into the industry, the calculated risks she took with her first projects, and how skills from journalism—curiosity, communication, and problem-solving, translated directly into navigating complex development deals. They discuss: - Why buying cheap bricks in great locations creates durable value and downside protection - How controlling your first property by living in it reduces risk while building experience - The importance of hiring the right architect and general contractor to maintain project control - Why New York's multifamily market presents opportunity amid regulatory complexity and cap rate compression - How young professionals can create value by sourcing deals rather than seeking traditional entry-level roles This episode offers practical insights for anyone interested in real estate development, entrepreneurship, or career pivots that leverage transferable skills. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:24) - Dana's first professional development project (00:04:01) - Risking it all with a recourse loan (00:06:51) - Why buying right matters more than timing (00:08:09) - Upper West Side townhouse arbitrage (00:10:32) - Growing up in Queens and early journalism career (00:12:02) - Lessons from El Paso: communication and humility (00:15:48) - Driving solo through Europe (00:17:54) - Trusting your gut and learning from mistakes (00:18:47) - First deal lessons: front versus back of house (00:20:19) - Creating mommy products and returning to TV (00:22:51) - Why failure builds valuable skills (00:24:24) - Selling the first project and moving forward...

The Art of Contrarian Real Estate Dealmaking | Scott Sherman

48 min

Scott Sherman and Sam Schneider sit down on Inside Deal to explore Sherman's career in real estate, from his early days at Ernst & Young through building and rebuilding investment firms in one of the most competitive markets in the country. Sherman shares how he navigated major inflection points, including the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 shutdown that threatened his retail-heavy portfolio, and the decision to leave a successful partnership to start over. His approach to crisis management, contrarian investing, and relationship-driven deal sourcing offers a grounded perspective on what it takes to operate in high-stakes environments. They discuss: - How Sherman gave all retail tenants a one-month rent reprieve in March 2020 and used the pause to separate proactive operators from those in denial - Why he signed personal recourse on a vacant office building in Miami during the summer of 2020, then leased and sold it within 18 months for more than double the basis - The mechanics of buying distressed debt on a Coconut Grove office building, foreclosing through a UCC process, and exiting in just over a year at a 45% gross return - Why he restructured his second company to stay lean, outsource property management, and focus exclusively on deals rather than operations - His insistence that students leverage advisory boards and build networks early, citing street smarts as equally important as financial modeling in real estate This episode is for anyone interested in opportunistic real estate investing, crisis decision-making, or the trade-offs involved in building and scaling a deal-driven business. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:42) - March 2020: when COVID hit the retail portfolio(00:03:58) - Proactive tenant relief strategy(00:05:20) - Working with lenders through the crisis(00:07:47) - The Cube deal in Wynwood(00:09:23) - Buying a vacant office building during COVID(00:11:09) - Leasing success and exit strategy(00:13:11) - Early career: from Florida...

How Great Investors Balance Risk and Opportunity - Tim Sloan - Vice Chairman & Global Head of Real Estate @ Fortress Investment Group

58 min

Tim Sloan and Sam Schneider explore the leadership lessons, deal-making instincts, and strategic thinking behind some of the most consequential transactions in modern finance and commercial real estate. Sloan spent three decades at Wells Fargo, rising from the workout group to CEO, and played a central role in the bank's acquisition of Wachovia during the 2008 financial crisis and its partnership with Blackstone on the GE Capital real estate portfolio. Now vice chairman and global head of real estate at Fortress Investment Group, he applies those lessons to a platform managing $55 billion across equity, debt, and opportunistic strategies in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Australia. They discuss: - How Wells Fargo structured and won the Wachovia acquisition in 48 hours during the financial crisis - Why the GE Capital deal with Blackstone came together in an elevator conversation after 10 years of relationship building - The difference between taking credit risk and equity risk, and why confusing the two leads to poor outcomes - Why Sloan believes commercial real estate offers the most attractive risk-adjusted returns of his career right now - How to transition from being a deal person to a leader capable of managing large, complex organizations This episode offers a rare look at the decision-making behind billion-dollar transactions and the career discipline required to lead through volatility and change. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:48) - September 2008: Crisis mindset at Wells Fargo (00:05:21) - The Wachovia acquisition begins (00:09:30) - Weekend due diligence and bidding decisions (00:15:27) - Losing the bid to Citigroup (00:16:17) - Finding the tax advantage and coming back (00:19:22) - Closing the deal and integration sprint (00:24:18) - Tim's path from Michigan to Wells Fargo (00:27:30) - Being entrepreneurial inside a large organization (00:29:00) - The GE Capital deal with Blackstone (00:33:08) - Building relationships over transactions (00:35:...

Building a Resilient Business Through Culture and Relationships - Gregg Mayer - CEO of Bisnow

56 min

Sam Schneider and Gregg Mayer sit down on Inside Deal to discuss Mayer's unconventional path from investment banking and private equity into operating roles, ultimately leading him to Bisnow as COO and CFO. Mayer shares how early career experiences taught him the value of deep relationships and the importance of balancing visionary leadership with operational discipline. He explains how a restructuring assignment years earlier shaped his management philosophy around pairing complementary skill sets—what he calls the yin and yang of leadership. After joining Bisnow in 2018, Mayer faced immediate culture shock, moving from a numbers-first environment to one where mission and values drove every decision. They discuss: - Why asking instead of telling unlocked better performance from his team - How Bisnow's culture enabled the company to break even during COVID despite being a live events business - How AI is amplifying Bisnow's ability to create actionable insights from proprietary content across hundreds of events - Why personal brand-building starts long before graduation and matters throughout a career This episode offers a rare look at how embracing vulnerability and cultural adaptation can redefine leadership effectiveness in fast-moving media businesses. (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:37) - Investment banking to private equity (00:06:36) - Learning from Alpine Capital partners (00:09:02) - Restructuring experience and management lessons (00:13:11) - Balancing leadership and open dialogue (00:15:10) - Becoming an operator at a storage company (00:19:59) - Joining Bisnow and culture shock (00:29:07) - COVID hits the events business (00:33:53) - Tragedy and leadership through loss (00:38:47) - AI and the future of live events (00:47:11) - Building a B2B media company today (00:48:39) - Career advice for recent graduates (00:54:17) - Greg's competitive advantage Links: Gregg on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-mayer-92335316a/ Bisnow - htt...

Building Hospitality Businesses Through Relationship-Driven Deals - Steven Kamali

57 min

Sam Schneider and Steven Kamali explore the unpredictable path of building businesses in hospitality and beyond on Inside Deal. Kamali shares how early cold-calling experience, a chance motel purchase in Montauk, and creative deal structures launched a twenty-five-year consulting career—and how losing it all in 2020 forced a complete reinvention. The conversation captures the resourcefulness required to pivot from restaurant brokerage to hotel consulting to staffing, often through relationships built years earlier. They discuss: - Using seller financing and partnership structures to acquire properties with limited capital - How Surf Lodge and The Capri became unintentional marketing engines for a consulting practice - Rebuilding after dissolving a 27-person company during the pandemic - Why being deliberate rather than reactive separates sustainable growth from chaos - The role of AI in scaling a modern staffing business without traditional overhead This episode offers a grounded look at entrepreneurship for anyone navigating setbacks, considering unconventional deal structures, or questioning whether their next move needs to be the obvious one. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:47) - Growing up entrepreneurial(00:05:25) - Learning the art of the cold call(00:07:43) - Starting a restaurant brokerage business(00:11:32) - Shifting from restaurants to hotel consulting(00:14:26) - Creating value through hotel food and beverage(00:20:22) - Buying Surf Lodge with creative financing(00:27:53) - The Capri deal and using expertise as currency(00:31:58) - The importance of trying and failing(00:33:31) - COVID hits the hospitality business(00:37:40) - The ghost kitchen experiment(00:39:36) - The SPAC attempt and pivoting again(00:42:49) - Building The Staffing Agency from the ground up(00:50:10) - Structuring a scalable and sellable business(00:51:59) - Synthesizing information as a superpower(00:53:22) - Advice for young entrepreneurs today Steven Kamali   LinkedIn - https:/...

The Work Ethic needed to Succeed in Real Estate & The NFL | Jamar Adams

1 hr 30 min

Sam Schneider and Jamar Adams sit down for a conversation that spans from childhood in Charlotte to building one of the most mission-driven real estate platforms in the country. Adams shares how a single mother's discipline shaped his work ethic, how football taught him to perform under pressure, and how a college professor's assignment introduced him to private equity and changed the trajectory of his career. The discussion moves through his transition from the NFL to Related Companies, where he earned the trust of some of the industry's most influential leaders through relentless preparation and coachability. They discuss: - Why Adams worked relentless hours at Related to compete with MBA classmates - How a last-minute meeting with Stephen Ross in an oversized suit jacket led to a career-defining opportunity - The moment he realized luxury real estate success wasn't enough and decided to launch Essence Development - Why he structures every deal to fund social infrastructure—childcare, healthcare, workforce training—in affordable housing communities - What mentors like Steven Ross, Jeff Blau, and Bruce Bill taught him about building companies that outlast their founders This episode offers a blueprint for turning adversity into advantage and using business as a vehicle for measurable social impact. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:59) - Growing up in Charlotte(00:05:48) - Early entrepreneurship lessons(00:08:11) - Football dreams take shape(00:10:25) - Arriving at Michigan(00:16:25) - Balancing academics and football(00:21:04) - Professor Onye changes everything(00:25:51) - Draft day disappointment(00:30:04) - Overcoming adversity(00:32:40) - Shadowing business leaders during NFL career(00:37:25) - The 15-minute meeting with Stephen Ross(00:47:05) - Joining Related over Goldman Sachs(00:55:20) - Learning from the best at Related(01:12:44) - The power of mentorship(01:16:18) - Starting Essence Development(01:22:38) - Social infrastructure and impact(01:26:49) - Empa...

How Real Estate Entrepreneurs Navigate Career Pivots and Business Failures

46 min

Inside Deal host Sam Schneider revisits standout moments from the show's first eight episodes, featuring investors, entrepreneurs, and deal makers who share the frameworks and instincts that shaped their careers. The compilation explores career pivots, early failures, and the discipline required to capitalize on high-value moments in both business and life. They discuss: - How failed ventures and non-linear career paths often precede long-term success - Why recessions and market downturns present disproportionate opportunity for those positioned to act - The importance of outworking competitors while maintaining strong relationships across all levels - How overlooked asset classes like truck parking and build-to-rent housing reward deep market understanding - Strategies for navigating crises without making fear-based decisions This episode distills lessons on resilience, strategic pivots, and asymmetric risk-taking for anyone building a career in real estate or entrepreneurship. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:17) - No one’s career is a straight line (00:09:25) - No money, no relationships, no problem (00:13:14) - Deals nobody else would touch (00:30:51) - The unfair edge (00:37:46) - Advice for young professionals Sam Schneider     LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-schneider-11234826/ Companies:   Imperium Capital — https://www.imperiumcap.com

Real Estate Opportunities During Recessions: Marketing Automation and Team Building | Peter Von Der Ahe

53 min

Sam Schneider and Peter Von Der Ahe explore the systems, mindset shifts, and strategic pivots that powered Peter's journey from cold-calling broker to leading one of New York's top multifamily investment sales teams, and eventually transitioning into full-time principal investing through MFP Capital. They discuss: - Why moving the money conversation to the front of a deal unlocked team collaboration and eliminated friction in brokerage - How cloud computing and marketing automation allowed Peter to scale from six people to fifty-five while leveraging his time tenfold - The decision to walk away from a successful, established brokerage business to build a principal platform from scratch - How recessions create disproportionate opportunity for those with runway, preparation, and the right reframe - Why understanding what you're naturally good at matters more than chasing what sounds impressive on the surface This episode offers a blueprint for anyone building teams, navigating career transitions, or looking to compound small advantages into lasting success in real estate. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:55) - Peter's early years and college at BC (00:04:24) - Moving to New York and first jobs (00:06:32) - Arthur Andersen and the CMBS boom (00:09:12) - Dot com detour and sales experience (00:12:06) - Joining Marcus & Millichap (00:13:51) - The GFC as opportunity (00:17:03) - Building a team-based brokerage model (00:23:42) - The marketing letter that changed everything (00:28:51) - Scaling with technology and systems (00:30:39) - Podcast and inbound strategies (00:31:12) - New York rent laws and pivoting out (00:33:36) - COVID acceleration and the Florida move (00:36:06) - Going all in on MFP Capital (00:40:45) - MFP's investment strategy (00:41:51) - Finding operational upside in deals (00:43:48) - Favorite deal story (00:45:23) - Peter's 90 mile-an-hour fastball (00:47:03) - Navigating adversity and hard decisions (00:49:51) - Advice for...

Identifying Emerging Real Estate Sectors Before They Become Institutionalized | Adam Gordon

52 min

Adam Gordon and Sam Schneider explore the evolution of a real estate career built on recognizing emerging opportunities before they become mainstream. Gordon shares how he transitioned from flipping cars in high school to developing hundreds of millions of dollars in urban self-storage, luxury residential conversions, modern e-commerce warehouses for Amazon, EV charging infrastructure, and ultimately Wildflower Studios—the first vertical film studio in the world, co-founded with Robert De Niro. The conversation traces a pattern of entering undervalued sectors early, building expertise quickly, and exiting when margins compress. They discuss: - How Gordon secured his first internship at Trammell Crow by offering to work for free and proved his value - The shift from factory outlet retail in Vermont to urban self-storage in New York after studying demographic and rent arbitrage opportunities - Why he handled all major leasing himself to stay close to demand signals and spot the next wave before competitors - The origin of his Amazon relationship and how asking one question about long-term tenant satisfaction led to pioneering EV charging deals - Building Wildflower Studios by interviewing practitioners for a year to design space that elevates the filmmaking process This episode offers a blueprint for entrepreneurs seeking to build differentiated businesses in alternative real estate sectors while managing downside risk.Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:04:09) - Childhood interests and early entrepreneurship(00:06:12) - Family background and shaping destiny(00:07:56) - Flipping cars at the University of Michigan(00:11:57) - Getting into real estate through Trammell Crow(00:14:45) - Learning the business at Trammell Crow(00:16:19) - Bear Stearns and financing skills(00:17:25) - First principal deals in Chicago(00:18:36) - Factory outlet stores in Vermont(00:20:29) - First Vermont shopping center deal(00:24:26) - Urban self-storage in New York(00:28:27) - Building mo...

Building a Vertically Integrated Real Estate Business from Ground Up | Martin Nussbaum

51 min

Sam Schneider and Martin Nussbaum sit down on Inside Deal to explore how learning disabilities, early failures, and strategic pivots shaped a multifaceted real estate career. Martin shares his path from pre-med student to real estate investment banker, and eventually to co-founding Slate Property Group—a vertically integrated firm managing thousands of units and billions in credit across the East Coast. The conversation unpacks how early setbacks, including a failed first venture during the financial crisis, informed his approach to diversification and risk management. They discuss: - Why bringing in co-GP partners accelerates learning and provides crucial balance sheet support for new developers - How Slate built separate profit-and-loss verticals for construction, property management, leasing, affordable housing, and lending to weather market cycles - The decision to hire a professional management team and step back from daily operations despite founding the company - What makes East Coast markets more operationally manageable than West Coast expansion for hands-on developers - Why maintaining weekly operational data on thousands of units creates competitive advantages in investor conversations and acquisition underwriting This episode offers a detailed look at building resilience and institutional scale in real estate development for operators and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:06) - Growing up in New Jersey as a first-generation American(00:04:27) - Overcoming learning disabilities through hard work(00:05:49) - College at SUNY Albany and family circumstances(00:07:40) - The pivot away from medical school(00:09:24) - Breaking into real estate investment banking(00:11:12) - Learning the operational side at Atlantic Realty(00:14:43) - Taking the leap and the N2 Realty failure(00:19:43) - Starting Silverstone Property Group after the GFC(00:21:09) - Early Brooklyn development before gentrification(00:22:49) - Launching Slate Property...

The Art of Finding Mispriced Real Estate | David Peretz - Founder @ East End Real Estate Partners

1 hr 20 min

Sam Schneider and David Peretz explore the evolution of a real estate career built on relationships, hustle, and strategic pivots. David Peretz, co-founder and managing partner of East End Capital, shares how he transitioned from investment banking at Lazard to becoming one of New York's most active office buyers during the post-financial crisis era. The conversation traces his journey from high-leverage lessons at Broadway Partners through launching East End Capital in 2010, identifying emerging opportunities in markets like Wynwood before they became household names, and adapting to capital and industry shifts. They discuss: - Why buying a C-grade building in the Garment District launched East End Capital's first major success - How East End identified Wynwood, Miami as an opportunity years before it became a national destination - The shift from traditional opportunity funds to insurance companies and private capital driving today's real estate transactions - Why starting a business requires financial runway and complementary partners you genuinely enjoy working with - How being proactive rather than reactive when learning from mentors separates successful operators from the rest This episode from Inside Deal offers practical insights for anyone navigating real estate investment, building a firm from the ground up, or learning how to spot value others overlook. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:38) - Growing up on Long Island and early work experience(00:04:17) - Penn and the value of college networks(00:09:42) - Real estate as the information business(00:12:51) - Management versus investment skill sets(00:17:54) - Landing at Lazard and investment banking grind(00:26:50) - Joining Broadway Partners and lessons learned(00:33:18) - Starting East End Capital(00:41:20) - First deal and the power of relationships(00:52:08) - Pivoting to Miami and discovering Wynwood(00:57:58) - Partnering with Related on ground-up development(01:01:59) - Entering the movie stu...

Transitioning from Real Estate Brokerage to Building a National Wellness Brand | Travis Talmadge

1 hr 4 min

Sam Schneider and Travis Talmadge sit down on Inside Deal to trace Travis's path from college intern to co-founder of Bathhouse, a rapidly expanding wellness brand redefining sauna culture in America. Travis shares how he entered real estate brokerage during the 2008 financial crisis, built momentum through relentless hustle and relationship management, and eventually left a thriving career to launch something entirely new. The conversation moves from early deal-making lessons to the pivot that led Travis and his business partner to open their first Bathhouse location in Williamsburg in 2019—just months before the pandemic hit. They discuss: - Why working hard and making yourself valuable matters more than subject matter expertise early in a career - How Travis structured landlord-financed build-to-suits to scale Bathhouse without raising excessive capital - What it took to survive COVID as a high-volume social business and emerge stronger - How information arbitrage shaped Travis's early success in off-market real estate transactions - Why Bathhouse designs every location uniquely and focuses on premium locations over cookie-cutter expansion This episode offers a blueprint for anyone navigating career pivots, building operating businesses, or learning how to turn curiosity and grit into long-term success. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:43) - Growing up in Bedford and early work ethic(00:04:23) - Landing the Eastern Consolidated internship(00:08:23) - The 2008 financial crisis and starting out in brokerage(00:10:00) - Early career lessons on hard work and discipline(00:12:53) - Buyer-focused brokerage strategy(00:14:53) - Joining Imperium Capital as first employee(00:18:03) - Early Imperium deals and market strategy(00:19:43) - The Soho Square deal and following up(00:22:33) - Information arbitrage in real estate(00:27:24) - Starting Triplet Acquisitions(00:30:35) - The Bathhouse origin story(00:33:03) - Finding the first Williamsburg location(00:34:35) - Building...

From Cold Calling to $1B: Building an AI-Proof Real Estate Platform Through Ground-Level Hustle - Dan Glaser - Managing Partner at Imperium Capital

1 hr 23 min

Sam Schneider and Dan Glaser trace the arc of their two-decade real estate partnership on Inside Deal, from cold-calling interns to co-founders of Imperium Capital. Dan recounts his early exposure to Manhattan real estate through Rangers games with his father, an internship in office leasing that taught him to canvas relentlessly, and a second internship at City Habitats that introduced him to investment sales. The conversation moves quickly to their meeting at KMG Partners in 2005, the shift to Eastern Consolidated during the financial crisis, and the decision to launch Imperium in 2010 with no salary, no safety net, and desks borrowed from Centurion. They discuss: - Why they structured C-corp acquisitions to avoid double taxation and landed the Apple Store building in SoHo for $75 million - How a cold call on a Chelsea apartment building turned into a same-day flip with a hidden buyer sitting in the closing room - The origin of IG Logistics after discovering truck parking in Atlanta and tripling NOI on a Denver site while still under contract - Why being a broker first builds the deal-sourcing skillset that AI cannot replicate - How problem-solving under pressure across zoning codes and municipalities separates successful operators from everyone else This episode captures the mechanics of off-market dealmaking and the mindset required to build a platform from scratch in a fragmented asset class. (00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:00) - Growing up on Long Island(00:03:31) - First interest in real estate(00:04:12) - Cold calling as an office leasing intern(00:06:25) - City Habitats and learning investment sales(00:10:28) - Meeting at KMG Partners(00:11:52) - The 2006 market shift(00:14:04) - Moving to Eastern Consolidated(00:14:17) - Learning from top brokers at Eastern(00:19:05) - Understanding OPM and capital structures(00:26:05) - Starting Imperium Capital(00:32:45) - First months at Imperium(00:34:21) - Building a sports team culture(00:36:59) - First building on...

Relationship Building and Execution in Real Estate Brokerage - Simon Ziff - President of Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group

55 min

Sam Schneider and Simon Ziff sit down at Miami Beach's historic Bath Club to explore what it takes to build lasting success in commercial real estate finance. Simon, president of Ackman-Ziff, traces his path from a small Pennsylvania town to leading one of the industry's most respected debt and equity brokerage firms for over three decades. The conversation covers how he built a culture around execution over ego, why internal alignment matters more than star producers, and how cultivating deep client trust has kept the firm thriving through multiple market cycles. They discuss: - Why knowing more than your competition is the foundation of long-term success - How Ackman-Ziff structured teams to avoid internal conflicts and encourage collaboration - The value of staying at one firm versus pivoting early in a career - Why Simon advises his own son to work elsewhere for five years before considering the family business - How AI is being used to improve execution and capital sourcing without replacing human judgment This episode on Inside Deal offers a candid look at relationship-driven deal-making and the discipline required to sustain a competitive edge in institutional real estate finance. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:52) - From Phillipsburg to Penn State (00:03:32) - Moving to New York City (00:05:40) - Joining Ackman Brothers (00:06:12) - Building a competitive advantage (00:09:13) - Focus over money (00:11:20) - Pivoting in capital markets (00:14:06) - Finding money through reputation (00:15:44) - Sam's path to Michigan (00:20:52) - Day trading to real estate (00:22:33) - Cold calling and canvassing (00:23:46) - Starting Imperium Capital (00:24:59) - What you know over who you know (00:25:51) - Building authentic relationships (00:28:27) - Building Ackman Ziff's culture (00:30:07) - Execution over sales (00:33:15) - The trust business (00:38:29) - Team structure and collaboration (00:43:51) - Teaching and mentorship (00:44:35) - Fam...

How Great Leaders Build Teams and Institutions - Bill Martin - Former AD of The University of Michigan and President of the U.S. Olympic Committee

46 min

Bill Martin joins Sam Schneider on the Inside Deal Podcast to reflect on a career that spans real estate development, banking, college athletics, and leadership at the Olympic level. Bill shares how a chance job posting at the University of Michigan led him into real estate, eventually building First Martin into a major development firm and founding the Bank of Ann Arbor. The conversation explores the lessons he learned navigating public approvals, scaling organizations, hiring leaders, and managing high-pressure roles simultaneously. Bill also discusses his unexpected path to becoming Athletic Director at the University of Michigan and President of the US Olympic Committee, offering candid insights into leadership, politics, perseverance, and long-term thinking. They discuss: • How Bill accidentally entered the real estate business while earning his MBA at Michigan • Building a real estate company from zero equity and running operations out of car trunks • The 17-year partnership with McDonnell Douglas that transformed First Martin • Why real estate development is fundamentally a “public sector business” • Leading the renovation of Michigan Stadium and navigating intense political opposition • Founding the Bank of Ann Arbor after frustrations with bank consolidation • How Bill managed leadership roles across real estate, banking, Michigan athletics, and the US Olympic Committee simultaneously • The hiring traits Bill values most, including humility, teamwork, and long-term thinking • Advice for young people entering real estate today, including working for experience before compensation • Lessons from Sam Zell and the importance of perseverance in building a career This episode is packed with practical leadership lessons and career insights for anyone interested in real estate, entrepreneurship, sports leadership, or institution building. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:22) - Getting into real estate through a bulletin board job (00:06:22) - First...

Welcome to the Inside Deal!

1 min

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build something extraordinary — not from a textbook, but from the trenches — this is The Inside Deal Podcast. I'm Sam Schneider, Managing Partner at Imperium Capital, and on this show, I sit down with the operators, investors, entrepreneurs, and dealmakers who've built remarkable careers and businesses from the inside out. Real estate is in our DNA, but the conversations go far beyond it — because the principles behind great deals, great companies, and great careers are universal. These aren't surface-level conversations about headlines or hype. They're real stories about risk, resilience, relationships, and the decisions that changed everything. From launching firms in the aftermath of the financial crisis, to building billion-dollar platforms across industries, to navigating massive pivots and coming back stronger after failure — these conversations are candid, tactical, and deeply human. This show is for ambitious people who want to understand how great careers and great businesses are actually built. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, operator, student, or just fascinated by high-stakes decision making, you'll hear the lessons that rarely make it into conference panels or social media posts. You'll learn how exceptional people think through uncertainty, build trust, raise capital, spot opportunities others miss, and create relationships that compound over decades. And what makes these conversations different is that I'm not interviewing from the outside. I've lived this world myself — so these episodes feel less like interviews and more like sitting in on an honest conversation between people who've spent years navigating the business together. This is The Inside Deal Podcast.

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