How He Went From Fired Lawyer To Tech Legend

What this episode covers

Randall Kaplan, Co-Founder of Akamai Technologies, shares his extraordinary journey from failed lawyer to building a $35 billion unicorn company in this powerful No Vacancy Podcast interview with commercial real estate broker Taylor Avakian.From writing 300 personalized cold letters to land a dream job with Eli Broad at SunAmerica, to co-founding Akamai during the dot-com era, navigating massive success and setbacks, mentoring with Sam Zell, and lessons on extreme preparation, relationship building, and giving back — this is a masterclass in grit, opportunity, and long-term thinking.Chapters:00:00 Intro & Welcome01:15 The 300 Letters Campaign That Changed Everything04:46 Landing the Job with Eli Broad at SunAmerica11:45 Lessons from Working with Eli Broad & the AIG Sale16:31 The Akamai Story: From MIT to $35 Billion Valuation24:22 Meeting & Friendship with Sam Zell31:18 Starting "In Search of Excellence" Podcast & Giving Back33:18 Building Authentic Relationships (Not Transactional)44:49 Real Estate Investing: LP to GP Lessons & Challenges51:47 Advice for Young People & Where Opportunity Lies Today1:01:52 How to Dominate as a Real Estate Broker1:07:18 Key Takeaways from Interviewing Legends1:10:26 Proudest Achievement: Giving Back & Changing LivesRandall Kaplan Akamai, Taylor Avakian No Vacancy Podcast, entrepreneurship, cold outreach, Sam Zell, real estate investing, career advice, extreme preparation, dot com bubble, success mindset.Sponsor - Loan TitanUpscale your experience withhttps://loantitan.com/Sponsor - AI for CRE CollectiveAI for CRE Community: https://www.skool.com/ai-for-cre-collective/about?ref=3b3ff2c0ccce44ba8039fafd54bf291aSubscribe and Stay Ahead! Stay informed and empowered in the multifamily real estate market. Subscribe to the channel for exclusive insights, rental updates, and expert analyses on the Los Angeles market.🔔 Don’t miss out on the latest trends and tips to maximize your property's potential: https://www.youtube.com/c/TaylorAvakian📈 Connect with me:Website: https://www.thegroupcre.com/Email: [email protected]: https://x.com/TAYVAY_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayloravakian/#podcast #business #realestate

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian?

This episode is 1 hour and 13 minutes long.

When was this No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian episode published?

This episode was published on April 29, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Randall Kaplan, Co-Founder of Akamai Technologies, shares his extraordinary journey from failed lawyer to building a $35 billion unicorn company in this powerful No Vacancy Podcast interview with commercial real estate broker Taylor Avakian.From...

Can I download this No Vacancy with Taylor Avakian episode?

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