The Deal Makers - An Agora production podcast

S3E22 - Jonathan Buckelew – Building an operator’s playbook

Agora Season 3 Episode 22

In this episode of the Dealmakers Podcast, host Asaf Raz speaks with Jonathan Buckelew, Vice President of Asset Management at Peak, about challenging legacy thinking in real estate. Jonathan shares how launching a fintech company during COVID reshaped his mindset and gave him an operator's perspective. He explains how questioning third-party vendors, centralizing operations, and leveraging automation helped him cut costs and improve performance. The conversation also dives into the strategic use of LinkedIn to build a personal brand, how that visibility led to new career opportunities, and practical ways to start integrating AI into asset management workflows.

Chapters:
00:01 – Introduction to Jonathan Buckelew and his real estate background
00:56 – From CPA to fintech founder: how entrepreneurship changed his approach
03:19 – Rethinking property management and building a new playbook
05:31 – Why operations now matter more than ever—and how to cut costs creatively
07:51 – Joining Peak and managing NYC multifamily with efficiency and design in mind
10:25 – Using LinkedIn to grow a personal brand and attract new opportunities
13:56 – Advice for real estate pros: how to make time for social media and start networking
19:03 – Overcoming fear of AI and applying it to operations, reporting, and workflows
23:09 – Building custom GPTs, automation hacks, and AI as your professional companion
28:32 – Shameless Plug: Peak’s NYC portfolio

Get in touch with Jonathan:
LinkedIn
Website

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