What It Takes to Run One of America’s Biggest Real Estate Empires — with Kushner CEO Laurent Morali

In this episode of Personable, Harvey Bracken-Smith sits down with Laurent Morali, CEO of Kushner — a firm managing over 22,000 apartments and 13 million square feet of commercial space across the U.S.

From his roots in France to his rise through global banking and now leading one of the most prominent privately held real estate firms in the country, Laurent shares how he built trust, took risks, and made bold decisions during volatile markets. He opens up about:

His unconventional path to becoming CEO

What separates good investors from great ones

How Kushner navigates risk, debt, and growth

The impact of politics, headlines, and public perception

His take on housing shortages, AI in real estate, and the future of development

Laurent’s story is packed with wisdom on leadership, resilience, and long-term thinking — a must-watch for anyone interested in real estate, business, or building something that lasts.

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.

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Harvey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith/ 
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My dad's startup: https://www.thedraft.io/
Donate to the charity we have founded in memory of my mum: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org