Brad Olsen- “Ripples and Bridges” (Part 2) (#114)

Bio Prior to his retirement at the end of 2021, Brad Olsen had been active in the area of international real estate investment for more than 40 years. During that time, he has represented investors, investment managers and developers from the U.S., Germany, The Netherlands, the U.K., Canada and Japan on transactions valued in excess of $10 billion. In 1995, he established Atlantic Partners, Ltd., an independent advisory firm, and he served as President of the company until his retirement. Before forming Atlantic Partners, Mr. Olsen was a principal of Richard Ellis, Inc., the US affiliate of a major international real estate advisory firm, and a shareholder of the international holding company. At Richard Ellis, he served as the director of the firm’s investment advisory group which advised domestic and international investors. Mr. Olsen was a founder and principal of The Lexington Company, a Chicago‐based independent real estate investment advisory and consulting firm. His responsibilities included acquisitions and dispositions, asset management and property finance. Richard Ellis acquired the company in 1989. From 1980 through 1983, Mr. Olsen served as senior vice president and regional manager of the Chicago office of Richard Ellis, Inc. He supervised real estate acquisitions, dispositions and management in the Midwest and was responsible for the firm’s business development efforts nationwide. Before joining Richard Ellis, Mr. Olsen was a practicing real estate lawyer. He served as general counsel of a real estate development and construction company and was in private practice. His assignments involved various aspects of real estate development, financing and property management. Mr. Olsen is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He was the author of numerous articles on international real estate investment and a frequent lecturer at leading universities and professional conferences, including Expo Real, the USA Conference in Frankfurt and the Global Property Market conference in Toronto. Mr. Olsen was a longtime member of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (“AFIRE”) and a member of the European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles (“INREV”). Show Notes Growth of Atlantic Partners (00:01:35) Brad Olson discusses the growth of his business, Atlantic Partners, and the types of clients he worked with. He elaborates on the initial challenges and milestones, including key partnerships and the expansion of services offered by Atlantic Partners. Establishing Atlantic Partners (00:03:07) Brad Olson shares the process of establishing Atlantic Partners, including the initial clients and business plan. He recounts the early days, the strategic decisions that shaped the company’s direction, and the importance of a solid business plan in attracting initial clients. Building an International Business (00:05:28) Brad Olson discusses his unconventional approach to building an international business and achieving work-life balance. He emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding and flexibility in managing a global client base while maintaining personal well-being. Attracting International Clients (00:08:01) Brad Olson talks about attracting international clients, specifically focusing on his interactions with Dutch and othe...