Beyond the Resume Podcast with Alex Valente (Living the Project: Real Estate Immersed)

In this episode of Beyond the Resume, host Lisa Flicker sits down with Alex Valente, a former actor turned real estate developer and Principal at Trammell Crow Company. Alex shares his unconventional journey from the stages of Hollywood to the construction sites of Southern California, including how he leveraged acting, tennis coaching, and a deep curiosity to build a successful career in real estate development.

From living in 6 communities in 18 months to better understand the renter experience, to leading iconic mixed-use projects in San Pedro, Alex explains why empathy, curiosity, and authenticity matter just as much as spreadsheets and steel beams in today’s real estate industry.

Whether you’re just entering the field or pivoting careers, Alex’s story offers a compelling, human-centered view of what it means to lead and grow in development today.

Chapters

(00:00) From NYC to LA: Acting Dreams and Tennis Lessons

(02:40) Breaking Into Real Estate with Help from a Mentor

(04:15) IMDb Credits, Soap Operas, and the Cold Case Cameo

(06:30) What Acting Taught Him About Commitment and Career Change

(07:10) Starting in Real Estate During the Post-Recession Recovery

(09:00) Why Trammell Crow & Learning from the Best Matters

(11:00) Public-Private Projects, RFPs, and Urban Transformation

(12:30) Favorite Project: Vivo on Harbor in San Pedro

(14:00) The Power of Retail Activation and Community Engagement

(15:20) Living in His Own Projects: Six Places in 18 Months

(17:40) Boots on the Ground: What Real Empathy in Development Looks Like

(21:00) What Trammell Crow Looks for When Hiring New Talent

(23:00) How Acting Informed His Leadership Style in Development

(24:00) Final Reflections on Mentorship, Authenticity, and Family

Links

YouTube: https://youtu.be/9IEv2dqXqfA

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/35ZJGLT

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3I3nkG9

Web: https://www.jacksonlucas.com/podcast/alex-valente