Kate Walsh | Dean of the Nolan School of Hotel Administration Cornell University

In this episode of Leading Voices in Real Estate, Matt Slepin sits down with retiring Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration Dean Kate Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolving role of hospitality within real estate and business leadership. Recorded during Walsh’s final month as Dean, the discussion explores Cornell’s outsized influence on the global hotel industry and the powerful network and culture that have shaped generations of hospitality leaders.The episode goes beyond hotels to examine how hospitality principles—service, operations, resident experience, and organizational culture—are increasingly influencing other real estate sectors, especially multifamily housing. Slepin connects these themes to broader industry shifts toward operational excellence, technology integration, and customer-centric leadership. Drawing on both personal travel experiences and professional insights from executive recruiting at ZRG, the conversation highlights why hospitality mindsets are becoming essential across the real estate landscape.