Creating Consensus and Leading with Compassion with Scott Wolstein

On this episode of the Up2 Podcast, host Adam Kaufman is joined by Cleveland native, Scott Wolstein. Scott is a national leader in commercial and retail real estate with billions invested in the ground all over the United States. His commendable work ethic started from a very young age and has shaped his leadership skills over the years. Never satisfied with his achievements, Scott continues to innovate in real estate development, all while remaining strikingly humble about where he is in life and trying to uplift others around him.

Although Scott grew up with a self-made and very successful father, he was determined to work hard and make a name for himself. At the age of thirteen, he started his first job earning just $1/hour! After graduating from Penn with an undergraduate degree, Scott attended Michigan Law School - two of the highest-ranked schools in America! At a young age, he was the CEO of a company he took public, responsible for billions in transactions, all while being an engaged father of four. 

“I just felt like I needed to make my own way in the world. That was just the path I chose, and it all worked out well.”

Scott and Adam discuss leadership, optimism, and building consensus. A successful and admirable leader goes far beyond just hard work and actions. One’s personality and how they treat others are very important when leading a team.  In fact, when asked of the ingredient has been to his success, Scott shares:

“It's to get other people to want you to be successful, because if people want you to fail they can make you fail.”

Scott’s hard work and dedication can be seen first hand at Cleveland’s Flats East Bank. Scott and his father had a vision to create a thriving community and a fun place to live. If you’ve been to The Flats you’ve witnessed their vision come to life!

“My dad and I had a vision that we could create a live, work, and play community that would make Cleveland a viable alternative as a place for young people to actually put their stake in the ground and start a career. You know, it wasn't always that way. The kids would go to Chicago or New York or San Francisco or Atlanta, or what have you.”

Scott has always strived to be a compassionate person, but in recent years, his focus has shifted further toward his family and his philanthropic efforts. Back in 2008, the Wolsteins built a school in Malawi, Africa, one of the poorest areas of the world. Their organization, Help Malawi, continues to work towards bringing education to children in impoverished areas. You can learn more about Help Malwai at https://helpchildren.org/.

“It's relationships that matter in life. It's being proud of what you accomplished and being able to share your pride with somebody you care about and who cares about you.”

To learn more about Scott, click here and listen to his full episode on the Up2 podcast or tune in wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Click here to read the full episode transcript.

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