Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities
The Built World Podcast is the premier biographical series and educational resource dedicated to the visionaries, risk-takers, and Institutional Operators shaping the landscape of Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Urbanism, and Property Development.
Hosted by Felipe Azenha and Ben Hoffman, active Commercial Real Estate Brokers and Co-Founders of Built World Advisors in Miami, this show is more than a market update—it is a deep-dive exploration into the life stories, personal philosophies, and investment strategies of the industry’s most influential leaders. Each episode is a professional masterclass delivered through the lens of a personal history, uncovering the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of the entrepreneur’s journey from their first deal to their most iconic project.
Conversations, Cocktails, and High-Level Banter
We believe the best insights happen when the guard comes down. Our signature "Conversations & Cocktails" format creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere where the banter is light, the humor is sharp, and the drinks are flowing. But don't let the cocktails fool you—the dialogue is profoundly intelligent, offering a tactical look at the Capital Stack, Asset Management, and Market Economics. It’s the kind of high-stakes "shop talk" you usually only hear in a private boardroom or a closed-door partner meeting.
Virtually Every Asset Class Explored:
While Felipe and Ben are specialists in the Miami Industrial and Warehouse sector, The Built World Podcast explores the entire spectrum of the built environment. We provide high-level analysis across virtually every asset class, including:
- Industrial & Logistics: From Small-Bay Industrial and Last-Mile Distribution to Flex Space and Cold Storage.
- Multifamily & Residential: High-rise luxury, Workforce Housing, and Build-to-Rent (BTR).
- Office & Mixed-Use: The evolution of the workplace and the rise of Live-Work-Play environments.
- Retail & Hospitality: The transformation of the High Street, boutique hotels, and experiential retail.
- Niche Assets: Self-storage, medical office buildings (MOB), and life sciences.
What We Explore:
If you are looking for an insider’s read on the South Florida Real Estate Market and national CRE Trends, we dive deep into:
- The Miami Market: Navigating the Miami Skyline, Wynwood, Brickell, Miami Beach and beyond.
- Capital Markets & Debt: Real-time perspectives on Cap Rates, interest rate impacts, GP/LP structures, and why veteran operators are moving off the sidelines.
- The Operator’s Playbook: A look at the "Operator" side of the business—scaling income, professionalizing property management, and building high-performance brokerage teams.
- PropTech & Innovation: How AI in Real Estate, advanced prospecting tools, and new construction technologies are redefining Placemaking.
Our Guest List:
We feature a "Who’s Who" of the built world, including: Real Estate Developers, Principals, Institutional Asset Managers, Capital Markets Brokers, Architects, Attorneys, and Urban Planners.
Who This Is For: Whether you are a seasoned Commercial Broker, an Active Investor looking for a Value-Add play, a student, or an entrepreneur obsessed with the future of our cities, this show offers a front-row seat to the minds redefining the built world.
Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities
Lissette M. Calderon - Founder & CEO, Neology Group
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Lissette Calderon showed up to the studio with a bottle of Casa Dragones tequila and got right to business—just like she has her entire career. From her childhood growing up near the Miami River to becoming one of the most visionary developers in South Florida, Lissette’s story is nothing short of inspiring.
In an industry historically dominated by men, this proud Cuban-American carved her own path. After attending Coral Gables High, she headed to The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and eventually returned to Miami to work at the Related Group. But it didn’t take long for her entrepreneurial drive to kick in.
Motivated by the lack of affordable housing and inspired by the city she calls home, Lissette took a bold leap. She put a development site under contract near the Miami River and launched Neo Lofts—her first project and a spark that would ignite a full-blown transformation of the area. With the success of Neo Lofts, Lissette followed up with Neo Vertika, Wind by Neo, and Pier 19 Residences & Marina, earning her the nickname “Queen of the Miami River.”
But her impact didn’t stop there. Lissette turned her sights on Allapattah, completing No. 17 Residences in 2021, and is now delivering two more communities—The Julia and Fourteen Allapattah Residences—in 2024. Her latest project, a massive 1,350-unit mixed-use community in the Palmer Lake District, sits across from the future site of Miami Freedom Park and is set to break ground later this year.
From Penn to pioneering Miami’s most overlooked neighborhoods, Lissette Calderon is proof of what vision, grit, and relentless determination can build—especially when the odds are stacked against you.
Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?
It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410.
Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation.
Ben Hoffman: LinkedIn
Felipe Azenha: LinkedIn
We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.