At a Fireside Chat at the Annual ULI Arizona Trends Day, Francis Najafi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pivotal Group, shares with Matt his approach to investing through cycles and why strategy is important, but culture and core values are what build a legendary business platform.

Pivotal Group is a private equity and real estate investment firm, known for its innovative role in complex investment projects, both in real estate and in private equity. Francis shares his journey of moving from Iran to the United States for school, and earning his PhD alongside day trading, to starting up in real estate investing during the RTC days, bringing his brother into the business, broadening into startup tech investing, and now bringing the next generation of family into the business.

His behind-the-scenes insights into investing through economic cycles and stories on iconic projects like the Promontory development in Park City on the real estate side and their investment in Network Solutions on the tech side are fascinating. We also discussed Francis’ family’s major donation to the Arizona State University Thunderbird School of Global Management for a global initiative to educate emerging entrepreneurs worldwide.

This Fireside Chat with Francis was recorded live on March 5 at the Annual Arizona ULI Trends Day, and is ULI’s largest worldwide event after their Spring and Fall Meetings. As we approach ULI’s Spring Meeting, this Fireside Chat with Francis offers actionable advice to young real estate entrepreneurs, especially the importance of relationships and lifelong learning.

Resources:

• Pivotal Group
• Francis Najafi | LinkedIn
• ULI

Related Episodes:

• Doug Bibby & Ed Walter | President, National Multifamily Housing Council; Global CEO, Urban Land Institute

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