In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews sits down with Brian Finnegan, President and CEO of Brixmor Property Group (NYSE: BRX), one of the largest open-air shopping center owners and operators in the United States.
Brian’s story is a masterclass in leadership, patience, and long-term career growth. Starting as a leasing representative in 2004, he spent more than two decades working through nearly every operational role in the company before ultimately becoming CEO of a publicly traded real estate investment trust with 344 shopping centers, 62+ million square feet of retail space, and more than 900 million annual consumer visits.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:55 Welcome to the Show
02:25 Understanding Brixmor Property Group
05:10 Retail's Resurgence
08:04 Supply and Demand Dynamics
11:19 Same Store Growth
12:51 How We Met
15:13 Networking as a Young Professional
16:49 Brixmor's Evolution and History
20:41 Lessons from Being Young
22:30 Philadelphia Roots
24:29 Getting Into Real Estate
26:49 Brokerage Lessons
28:33 Cold Calling Stories
30:56 Dealing with Rejection
34:32 Time Blocking and Prospecting
35:10 Maximizing Your Current Role
38:01 Moving Across America
39:37 Embracing New Cities
40:54 National Portfolio Experience
41:36 Market Expertise Matters
43:14 Career Growth and Relocation
45:20 Becoming CEO
49:07 First Quarter Success
51:59 CEO Responsibilities
53:13 Redevelopment Strategy
56:08 Work Life Balance
01:00:13 Technology and AI
01:05:07 Innovation and Young Talent
01:07:50 Advice for Young Professionals
01:10:01 Rapid Fire Round
If you're interested in commercial real estate, investing, leadership, entrepreneurship, career growth, public companies, REITs, retail real estate, or business strategy, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world experience.
Follow Brian Finnegan:
LinkedIn: Brian Finnegan
Learn More About Brixmor Property Group:
Website: https://www.brixmor.com
NYSE: BRX
Follow Kyle Matthews:
Instagram: @KyleMatthewsCEO
TikTok: @KyleMatthewsCEO
X: @KyleMatthewsCEO
LinkedIn: Kyle Matthews
Subscribe for more interviews with CEOs, founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
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