The Value Creators Podcast Episode #56. How to Build a Scalable Real Estate Empire: A Conversation with Ivan Barratt

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Real estate is more than buying and selling properties—it’s about creating value for tenants, investors, and communities. How do you scale a real estate business from a single duplex to managing thousands of units? How do you navigate economic cycles while ensuring consistent returns for stakeholders?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Ivan Barratt, founder of BAM Capital, about his entrepreneurial journey and the principles that have driven his success in the real estate industry.

Key insights include:

  • How Ivan scaled his business from a duplex to managing nearly 9,000 units.
  • The importance of creating a positive workplace culture for property management success.
  • The concept of forced appreciation and its role in increasing property value.
  • Strategies for navigating economic cycles and balancing cash flow with long-term growth.
  • The potential of AI in enhancing property management while preserving human connection.

Whether you’re an aspiring real estate entrepreneur or looking to invest in multifamily housing, this episode offers valuable lessons on leveraging innovation, culture, and strategy to create lasting value. Learn how to approach real estate as a value-driven business and scale sustainably.

Resources:

➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Visit BAM Capital

Connect with Ivan Barratt on LinkedIn

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Knowledge Capsule:

1. Real Estate as a Value-Creating Business

  • Real estate, especially in rental housing, offers value by providing fundamental needs such as shelter, community, and comfort.
  • It’s a service-oriented business that benefits tenants, investors, and employees alike.

2. Ivan Barratt’s Entrepreneurial Journey

  • Ivan started his career by working for free to learn from an experienced mentor.
  • His business began with a duplex, eventually scaling to managing nearly 9,000 multifamily units.
  • The journey highlights persistence, strategic scaling, and a focus on value creation.

3. The Importance of Culture in Property Management

  • Ivan emphasizes creating a workplace where employees feel valued, which in turn enhances service quality for tenants.
  • Treating employees as invaluable contributors has been a key factor in the company’s success.

4. Value Creation Through Forced Appreciation

  • Forced appreciation involves improving properties to increase their value and attract higher-paying tenants.
  • Upgrades and repairs benefit both tenants and investors by creating better living spaces and increasing property profitability.

5. Multifamily Housing as a Core Focus

  • Ivan’s company specializes in Class A multifamily properties, which are newer, well-maintained, and cater to creditworthy tenants.
  • Class A properties offer lower risk profiles and align with investor preferences for stable, high-value assets.

6. Diversification Through Funds

  • Transitioning from single property investments to funds has allowed Ivan’s firm to offer diversification and reduce single-asset risk for investors.
  • The fund model provides flexibility and access to larger, multi-property deals.

7. Managing Economic Cycles

  • The business has weathered multiple economic corrections, using downturns as opportunities to acquire undervalued properties.
  • Liquidity and prudent financial management are critical to thriving in fluctuating markets.

8. Balancing Cash Flow and Appreciation

  • Real estate investments offer dual benefits: consistent rental income and long-term capital appreciation.
  • Ivan’s firm focuses on optimizing both cash flow for immediate returns and appreciation for long-term wealth building.

9. Strategic Property Acquisitions

  • The firm targets markets where large institutional players are less active, finding value in underpriced or poorly managed properties.
  • A disciplined approach to pricing ensures investments align with investor expectations and risk tolerance.

10. Tenant Retention and Marketing

  • Providing excellent service and responsive maintenance reduces tenant turnover.
  • Continuous marketing efforts are essential to maintaining high occupancy rates in a transient rental market.

11. The Role of Private Equity in Real Estate

  • The firm’s private equity model attracts individual and institutional investors looking for high returns through illiquid, long-term investments.
  • Strategies such as leveraging endowments and retirement funds have expanded investment opportunities.

12. The Future of AI in Property Management

  • AI is expected to enhance team productivity and improve tenant services through automation and data insights.
  • Despite technological advancements, Ivan believes human connection will remain a key differentiator in creating community value.

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #55. Activating Change is Harder Than Prescribing It: A Conversation with Nellie Wartoft

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How can businesses successfully navigate the relentless pace of change without alienating employees? Why do so many change initiatives fail, and what role does communication play in driving successful transformations?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings speaks with Nellie Wartoft, founder and CEO of TigerHall, about a revolutionary approach to organizational change—change activation. Nellie explains how businesses can move beyond outdated, top-down “change management” processes to foster bottom-up, action-driven change that engages employees and aligns with company culture.

Key insights include:

  • Why employees resist change when they lack a voice and feel excluded from the process.
  • How TigerHall uses data, personalization, and modern content formats (videos, podcasts, live streams) to activate change effectively.
  • The importance of two-way feedback loops, real-time insights, and ongoing execution to drive agile, impactful transformations.
  • Why culture is defined by who you hire and how behaviors are rewarded and recognized.

For leaders seeking to address change fatigue, retain top talent, and create agile organizations, this episode provides a roadmap to activate meaningful and lasting transformation.

Resources: 

Discover how TigerHall helps businesses navigate change in a human, engaging, and data-driven way.

The Executive Council For Leading Change

Connect with Nellie Wartoft on LinkedIn

➡️ Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

Knowledge Capsule:

1. The Growing Challenge of Change in Organizations

  • Employees now face significantly more change, increasing from 1 major change per year in 2014 to around 14 changes annually today.
  • Frequent changes, including reorganizations, technology implementations, and leadership transitions, create “change fatigue,” reducing employee engagement.

2. The Change Activation Gap

  • Most change initiatives fail due to ineffective execution, not poor planning or strategy.
  • The change activation gap occurs when organizations fail to implement change through proper communication, capability building, and cultural alignment.

3. The Natural Human Reaction to Change

  • People’s initial response to change is caution, often mistaken for resistance.
  • If employees feel involved, heard, and empowered, they are far more likely to embrace change rather than reject it.

4. Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Change

  • Change imposed in a top-down manner tends to alienate employees, leading to resistance and disengagement.
  • Successful change happens “with the organization,” where employees are active participants, rather than “against it.”

5. Change Activation as Action-Oriented

  • Change activation focuses on execution rather than static plans or PowerPoint strategies.
  • It relies on ongoing experimentation, two-way feedback loops, and real-time data to guide effective actions.

6. The Role of Leadership in Change

  • Leaders play a guiding, influencing, and coordinating role rather than “managing” the change process.
  • Unified messaging from leadership is crucial to avoid confusion and ensure alignment across the organization.

7. Giving Employees a Voice

  • Employees are more likely to support change when they feel heard and valued.
  • Feedback mechanisms, even if not acted upon directly, create trust and improve employee perceptions of leadership.

8. TigerHall’s Role in Driving Change Activation

  • TigerHall is a software platform designed to facilitate change activation through engaging communications, capability building, and cultural transformation.
  • It leverages modern communication formats like videos, live streams, and podcasts to replace outdated emails and PDFs.

9. Data-Driven Change with Real-Time Insights

  • TigerHall enables dynamic audience targeting based on time, activity, and sentiment analysis.
  • Leaders can monitor execution, employee feedback, and problem areas in real time, enabling agile decision-making.

10. Culture as a People-Centric Concept

  • Organizational culture is primarily defined by hiring decisions, behavior rewards, and leadership actions.
  • Transforming a company’s culture requires hiring the right people and strong leadership that embodies desired values.

11. Specialization in Change and Transformation Roles

  • Change and transformation leaders are increasingly specialized, possessing strong problem-solving, influencing, and communication skills.
  • The role is less about rigid frameworks and more about agility, adaptability, and collaboration.

12. Modern Communication in Change Activation

  • Content must be targeted, engaging, and delivered in formats that employees use daily, such as podcasts and videos.
  • Personalization and automation ensure that the right message reaches the right people at the right time.

Show Notes:

0:00 | Intro
2:02 |  Change is the Only Constant: The Concept of Change Management in Corporate America and Its Challenges
4:57 | Increasing Frequency of Changes Employees Face and its Impact on Engagement  
5:35 | Subjective Value
8:39 | Change Activation and its Importance Over Traditional Change Management. 
13:04 | Change with the Organization
14:42 |  Overview of TigerHall’s Platform and its Features for Driving Change Activation.   
18:12 | TigelHall’s Content Creation Process  
20:42 | Dynamic Audience Group: Targeting messages             
22:09 | Value Creators Online Course
23:22 | AI-driven targeted messaging
24:16 | Self Selection 
25:26 | Success Story and the Role of Culture in Change Management and its Challenges
29:19 | Giving Individuals a Voice
31:37 | Culture 
34:49 | The Flow Concept: Future of Change

The Value Creators Podcast Episode #54. How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Brand: A Conversation with Neil Twa

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What if you could leverage billions of dollars in pre-built infrastructure to grow a thriving e-commerce business without the burden of warehouses, logistics, or massive overhead? How can small innovations—rather than big inventions—solve customer problems and create scalable brands?

In this episode of the Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings sits down with Neil Twa, CEO and Co-Founder of Voltage Holdings, to explore the concept of “almost automated income.” With over 17 years of experience building businesses both online and offline, Neil shares his expertise in scaling multi-million dollar brands through Amazon FBA and other e-commerce channels. Since 2012, he’s launched 5+ personal brands, generated tens of millions in revenue as an 8-figure seller, and helped over 1000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses through consulting, coaching, and mentoring.

Neil walks through key principles, including:

  • Focusing not on products but on customer value creating solutions that deliver real value by meeting real needs.
  • Choosing profitable offerings with high margins through a data-driven “Greenlight Process.”
  • Balancing demand creation (social media, influencers) with supply chain mastery.
  • Scaling efficiently with small teams, automation, and AI systems.

Listeners will learn how to identify winning products, test market potential, and build exit-ready brands that can sell for 3-15x their earnings. More than just a business model, Neil highlights how entrepreneurship can create purpose, freedom, and a fulfilling lifestyle.

For entrepreneurs looking to tap into today’s generative platforms, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration to achieve success in the new economy.

Resources:

➡ 📚 Get a Free Copy of Neil’s Book “Almost Automated Income with FBA” Using code: VALUECREATORS

Connect with Neil Twa on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Connect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedIn

The Value Creators on Substack

➡  Learn What They Didn’t Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business Course

Knowledge Capsule:

1. The Rise of Generative Platforms for Entrepreneurs

  • Entrepreneurs now benefit from pre-built infrastructure, including warehouses, supply chains, and platforms like Amazon FBA.
  • This “almost automated income” model allows businesses to leverage billions of dollars in infrastructure investments without upfront costs.

2. Amazon FBA as a Strategic Platform

  • Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) offers unparalleled logistics and customer support, enabling businesses to scale rapidly.
  • While entrepreneurs pay platform fees, Amazon’s infrastructure and last-mile delivery streamline operations for sellers.

3. Choosing the Right Platform and Business Model

  • Entrepreneurs should evaluate platforms (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, TikTok shops) based on their business goals and product fit.
  • Each platform offers unique advantages, but Amazon’s massive demand capture makes it an ideal starting point for physical product businesses.

4. Innovation Over Invention

  • Entrepreneurs should focus on small product innovations rather than completely new inventions.
  • Successful products solve customer problems through slight improvements, as demonstrated by the evolution of Instapot and air fryers.

5. Customer-Centric Business Design

  • The starting point for any business is identifying customer problems and innovating to meet their needs.
  • Neil emphasizes that perceived value is subjective and depends on how well the product answers a customer’s core questions or concerns.

6. Profitability Over Vanity Metrics

  • Focusing on unit profitability and understanding margins is critical for long-term success.
  • Many businesses mistakenly chase high sales volume without considering net profits, which can lead to operational burdens.

7. Identifying Profitable Products and Target Customers

  • Neil’s “Circle of Confidence” strategy starts with familiar markets and customers (e.g., women aged 27-40, who drive online purchases).
  • Profitable products typically fall between $50 and $500, offering high margins without requiring massive volumes.

8. The Greenlight Process and Market Testing

  • Before scaling, products are market-tested using a 90-day process with small order quantities (100 units).
  • Feedback from the test phase informs product improvements and differentiations, ensuring better market success.

9. Building Brands as Valuable Assets

  • Entrepreneurs should aim to build scalable brands, not just sell products, to create exit-ready businesses.
  • Assets are sold at 3-15x EBITDA, making the exit a key financial reward for successful business owners.

10. Managing the Demand and Supply Chains

  • Businesses must balance demand creation (e.g., through social media, influencers, viral videos) with efficient supply chain fulfillment.
  • Platforms like Amazon act as “demand capture engines,” validating products and creating trust among customers.

11. The Power of Process and Automation

  • Systems, automation, and AI allow businesses to operate efficiently with minimal overhead.
  • Entrepreneurs can build 7-8 figure businesses with small teams (e.g., one lead and five VAs) and focus on CEO-level strategy.

12. Entrepreneurship as a Purpose-Driven Lifestyle

  • Neil emphasizes building businesses with a clear social mission, such as family time, freedom, and generational wealth.
  • The entrepreneurial journey involves calculated risks, discipline, and resilience, leading to a flexible and fulfilling life.

Show Notes:

0:00 | Intro
3:21 | How Does Neil View Entrepreneurial Business Growth?
5:19 | Platforms That Drive Business Growth and Their Impact on Success
10:09 | Customer-Centric Business Models
16:49 | Subjective Value VS Solution Value
19:58 | Value Creators Online Course
21:11 | Price Value Choosing Customer
24:45 | Finding Suppliers
29:02 | Profit & Balance Sheet: Building Profitability and Assets
34:19 | Neil Shares his Value Proposition:  Innovation and Product Development
39:06 | CEO Operators: Future of Economy
40:20 | Process, Process, and Process: Building a Brand and Capturing Demand
44:15 | Wrap-Up