The Talk That Still Matters

Send us Fan MailIf there is one person in multifamily who knows how to bring people together, it's Tara Samuels! She's the ultimate human connector and her passion for people, relationships, and creating opportunities for others is something special.In this episode of the Multifamily Streamlined podcast, Tara joins me to share her story, wisdom, and the lessons she's learned over more than 20 years in the industry. From starting her career onsite to building national partnerships and creating communities that bring people together, Tara understands that the real magic of our industry happens through relationships.As the Founder of Multifamily Mentor Matchmaking, a growing community of more than 850 members, and the creator of Multifamily Breakfast Club, Tara has turned her passion for connecting people into opportunities for mentorship, professional growth, and meaningful conversations.We talk about the importance of showing up, investing in relationships, opening doors for others, and remembering that connection should never be just about what someone can do for you.Whether you're just starting your career or have spent decades in multifamily, this conversation is a great reminder that relationships matter, people matter, and sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is simply connect two people who need to know each other.Join us for a fun, heartfelt conversation with one of the industry's very best connectors!

Send us Fan MailWe all need that person in our lives. The one who will celebrate your wins but also tell you what you need to hear, even when you don't want to hear it.For me, that person is my dear friend Chris Hazlett.Chris and I have been friends for 25 years, and throughout those years, he's been one of the people I can always count on to challenge me, push me to show up better, and give me a good kick when I need it. And trust me, sometimes I need it!But what makes our friendship so special isn't just the honesty. It's knowing that every conversation comes from a place of genuine care, respect, and wanting to see each other succeed.Chris has also built a pretty incredible career over his 25 years in the multifamily industry. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President of Customer Growth and Value at PetScreening, where he leads customer experience, onboarding, training, account management, and customer success. He's helped build and launch multiple products throughout his career, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset that started long before multifamily, growing up in his family's small restaurant.But beyond the titles, accomplishments, and career success, Chris understands something I believe is at the heart of everything we do: relationships matter.In this episode, we're talking about friendship, leadership, career growth, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who challenge you, and why the relationships we build along the way are often our greatest investment.In this episode:The value of a 25-year friendship and having people who aren't afraid to challenge youWhy we all need someone who will give us a good kick when we need itBuilding a successful career without losing sight of relationshipsLessons learned from 25 years in the multifamily industryHow an entrepreneurial mindset shapes leadership and businessThe importance of showing up for others, personally and professionallyWhy honest conversations and accountability are some of the greatest gifts we can give each otherChris is a husband to Jennifer and proud dad to Ava and Mason, and someone who has always understood that success is about more than what you accomplish professionally.This conversation is a special one for me. After 25 years of friendship, I can tell you that the people who make the biggest impact in our lives aren't always the ones telling us how great we're doing. Sometimes they're the ones reminding us that we're capable of more.Find your people. Hold on to them. And be willing to be that person for someone else.

Send us Fan MailAI is everywhere right now, but the bigger question is: are we actually using it in a way that makes our work and our lives better?In this episode of Multifamily Streamlined, Leslie sits down with Holly Duckworth for a practical and refreshingly human conversation about artificial intelligence, how quickly it is changing the way we work, and why embracing AI doesn’t mean losing the human connection that matters most.They talk about getting past the intimidation of AI, finding simple ways to incorporate it into your everyday workflow, and looking at AI as a tool that can create more time, improve efficiency, and help us focus our energy where it has the greatest impact.Whether you’re already using AI every day or you’re still wondering where to begin, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to know everything. You just have to be willing to start.In this episode:How AI is changing the way we work and leadGetting comfortable using AI without feeling like you have to become an expertPractical ways to incorporate AI into your everyday workflowUsing AI to create efficiency and give time backWhy human connection still matters in an AI-driven worldMoving from curiosity about AI to actually using itGiving yourself permission to experiment, learn, and evolve as the technology doesLearn more and connect with Holly:Holly Duckworth Resources: https://pages.hollyduckworth.com/hdlinktreeWatch the video Holly referenced during our conversation:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1471413384815314If AI has felt overwhelming, intimidating, or like one more thing you’re supposed to figure out, this episode is for you. Start small, stay curious, and remember: AI isn’t about replacing what makes you good at what you do. It’s about giving you more capacity to do it.

Send us Fan MailWhy are so many women comfortable making major decisions at work, yet still hesitant to fully step into conversations about their own money and wealth?In this episode of Multifamily Streamlined, I sit down with Natalie Sherman, Head of Wealth Planning at &Wealth, for a conversation about women, money, and what it really means to have a seat at the financial table.After spending 25 years as an estates and trusts attorney, Natalie brings a unique perspective to wealth planning. We talk about why women often know exactly what they want for themselves and their families but may not always have the confidence, knowledge, or opportunity to fully participate in the financial decisions that shape their future.We also get into why talking about money shouldn’t feel uncomfortable, the questions we should be asking, and how taking even small steps toward understanding our finances can create greater confidence and control.This isn’t investing 101. It’s a conversation about being informed, asking questions, understanding what you have, and making sure you have a voice in the decisions that impact your future.In this episode:Why women need a seat at the financial tableBecoming more comfortable talking about moneyKnowing and understanding your financial pictureAsking better questions about your wealth and futureThe role confidence plays in financial decision-makingPlanning for major life transitionsTaking ownership of your financial future

Send us Fan MailSometimes the hardest part of going through something hard is simply figuring out how to take the first step.In this episode of Multifamily Streamlined, I sit down with SC Perot for a real conversation about navigating the hard seasons of life, recognizing that everyone’s “hard” looks different, and finding a way to keep moving forward even when you don’t have it all figured out.We talk about the power of disciplined work and why sometimes the answer isn’t waiting until you feel ready, it’s creating a framework that helps you take the next step. SC shares her approach to finding “joy in the wild” and how intentional actions, even small ones, can begin to shift where we are.We also unpack something we both love: the power of music. How a song can change your energy, bring you back to a moment, help you process what you’re feeling, or sometimes just give you exactly what you need to keep going. And maybe most importantly, how finding new music that holds new memories can provide some of the most unexpected joy of all.This conversation is about resilience, discipline, joy, music, and remembering that moving forward doesn’t always require a giant leap. Sometimes it really does start with one step.In this episode:Taking the first step when life feels hardWhy everyone’s “hard” looks differentThe power of disciplined workCreating a framework for moving forwardFinding “joy in the wild”The connection between music, emotion, and memoryFinding new music and creating new memoriesUsing music to shift your energy and keep moving

Send us Fan MailThere is a lot of noise in multifamily right now, so what is the data actually telling us?In this episode of Multifamily Streamlined, I sit down with Meggan Taylor, Market Analyst at RealPage, to unpack the current state of the U.S. multifamily market and what owners, operators, and leaders should really be paying attention to.We talk about supply, demand, rent growth, occupancy, and the differences we’re seeing across markets. Meggan helps us look beyond the headlines and understand what the numbers actually mean for those of us making real-time decisions at the property and portfolio level.We also dig into what the data tells us about where we’ve been, where we are today, and what could be ahead as the market continues to shift.If you work in multifamily, this is one of those conversations that gives you the context behind the numbers and helps you think differently about the decisions you’re making every day.In this episode:The current state of the U.S. multifamily marketSupply and demand trendsOccupancy and rent growthWhat we’re seeing across different marketsHow to separate headlines from meaningful dataWhat today’s data could tell us about what’s aheadUsing market intelligence to make better business decisions

Send us Fan MailCulture is easy to talk about. Building one that actually drives results and protecting it as you grow is something entirely different.In this episode of Multifamily Streamlined, I sit down with Erin Krueger, a highly successful real estate broker and team leader in Nashville, for a conversation about what it really takes to intentionally build a culture that people want to be part of.Erin is the ultimate culture builder and she understands that culture isn’t separate from business performance. The right culture creates accountability, attracts the right people, strengthens your team, and ultimately helps you achieve your business goals.We talk about being intentional about who you allow into your culture, protecting what you’ve worked hard to build, and recognizing when something or someone simply isn’t aligned. We also unpack what leadership looks like when you care deeply about your people while still holding high expectations.And, of course, we talk about something Erin and I are both passionate about: women genuinely supporting, championing, and creating opportunities for other women.In this episode:Building culture intentionallyHow culture impacts business resultsProtecting the culture you’ve worked hard to createHiring and surrounding yourself with the right peopleLeading with both high expectations and genuine careKnowing when something is no longer alignedWomen supporting and championing other women

Send us Fan MailA couple of months ago, I shared a simple message on LinkedIn: we have to get back to being a people business.The response was overwhelming. Everyone agreed. But what was missing was the how.In this episode, I’m digging into what’s really happening right now and why so many of us feel like we’re constantly reacting instead of actually leading. Between the pressure to perform, the amount of communication coming in, and everything we’re responsible for, it’s easy to slip into managing tasks instead of leading people.But this isn’t just a culture conversation. It’s a performance conversation.Because when we lose connection, it shows up in leasing, in team consistency, in communication, and ultimately in results.I share a couple of real moments that brought this into focus for me. One with a developer who challenged a team to stop leading from behind the desk and start with the experience, showing prospects the dream first. And another from a coaching call where everything looked fine on paper, but the real story only came out once we slowed down and asked better questions.The reality is we don’t have a knowledge problem. We have an execution problem.If we want different results, we have to show up differently. That means slowing down enough to understand what’s really happening, getting back into real conversations with our teams, and focusing on what actually moves the needle.We’re also taking this a step further with an upcoming class series. The first session will focus on leasing through an operational lens on May 7, followed by a manager class on May 28 and a multi-site leader class on June 4. Each one is built to move beyond theory and into real execution so you can actually apply it the next day.Busy isn’t the goal. Better is.Let’s get back to being a people business.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Multifamily Streamlined podcast, Leslie sits down with Sheila Greene, CEO of Rainey Management, to talk about what it really takes to lead teams in today’s multifamily environment. From driving performance to navigating the moments when things don’t go as planned, this conversation dives into how strong leaders create space for growth, accountability, and continuous improvement.Sheila shares her journey through the industry, lessons learned along the way, and how her leadership approach continues to evolve while keeping her team—and the bigger picture—front and center.What We Cover:• Leading teams through both success and setbacks• Creating a culture where learning is part of the process• Balancing performance expectations with people development• Navigating challenges without losing momentum• Lessons from Sheila’s career and leadership evolutionWhy It Matters:The best teams aren’t built when everything is going right—they’re built in the moments when things are hard. This episode is a reminder that how you lead through those moments is what ultimately drives long-term success.Connect with Us:Follow along for more insights on operations, leadership, and driving performance in multifamily.

Send us Fan MailI’m going to say this out loud.While there may have been a miss in my TEDx presentation, I am confident the talk itself is one you need to hear in its entirety.It’s 12ish minutes. We all have that kind of time.Because this message is bigger than the delivery. It’s bigger than one moment on one stage.This is about the work we are doing through EmpowHER. The conversations we are pushing forward. The spaces we are building. And the truth that there is more available to us when we stop trying to fit into rooms that were never designed for us in the first place.Inside this episode:The full TEDx talk in its entiretyA message that may feel like just the surface but is actually the start of something much biggerPieces of my personal journey that shaped why this matters so deeply to meWhy this is not the end of the story but the very beginningMy output may not have reflected my input in that moment. But the message still stands.And honestly, it is one I believe needs to be shouted from the rooftops.If you give me 12 minutes, I think you will understand why.This is just the beginning.