From Deloitte to IOS: Chris Wong’s Path Into Industrial Real Estate

In this episode of The Industrialist, Jeremy Mercer sits down with Chris Wong to talk about his unconventional path from tax and M&A work at Deloitte into the world of real estate investment.Chris shares how his background in accounting and corporate tax gave him a unique lens on transactions, development, and investment strategy. The conversation covers his time at Hillwood, helping build out real estate operations at Austin Industries, and how those experiences shaped the way he approaches deals today.They also get into the growth of industrial real estate in Dallas-Fort Worth, the influx of institutional capital into the market, and why understanding operations and market fundamentals matters more than ever. Chris breaks down lessons learned from both successful deals and difficult ones, emphasizing the importance of due diligence, adaptability, and long-term thinking.This is a practical conversation about career pivots, real estate fundamentals, and what it takes to navigate an increasingly competitive market.And for anyone looking to break into the business, Chris’s story is proof that there’s no single path into real estate.