From Wall Street to the Sahara: Lessons in Leadership and Intentional Living With Russell Benaroya

Russell Benaroya is the COO and Managing Director of Private Capital at Timberlane Partners, a private multifamily real estate investment and development firm based in Seattle. With over two decades in investment banking, private equity, and entrepreneurship, he has led the firm's acquisition and development of more than $1 billion in assets across key West Coast and Mountain West markets. His leadership has earned him notable recognition, including selection to the Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40. He is the author of One Life to Lead: Business Success Through Better Life Design, which explores how personal alignment fuels professional fulfillment. A passionate ultra-endurance athlete and advocate for intentional living, Russell has completed the grueling 150-mile Marathon des Sables in Morocco. In this episode… Entrepreneurs often chase success so relentlessly that they lose sight of what truly matters. Between managing teams, scaling operations, and balancing personal lives, it's easy to shift away from purpose and fulfillment. How can business leaders design lives that align personal meaning with professional achievement? Russell Benaroya, an experienced entrepreneur, author, and real estate executive, shares how intentional life design can transform both business and personal success. Drawing from his own journey — including endurance running and founding and leading startups — Russell emphasizes defining your purpose, practicing self-awareness, and creating structure to support sustainable growth. His approach highlights how aligning daily actions with core values enables leaders to avoid burnout, improve relationships, and lead with clarity. In this episode of The Road Already Traveled, Rich Schuette interviews Russell Benaroya, COO and Managing Director of Private Capital at Timberlane Partners, about building purpose-driven success in business and in life. Russell discusses the mental endurance of entrepreneurship, lessons from ultra-distance running, and the importance of designing a life that fuels your best work. He also delves into redefining wealth, embracing self-worth, and turning purpose into measurable impact.