Starting from Experience - Ft. Leah Raad - SHI 1027

🎙️ Episode Summary In this episode, Wesley Deese sits down with Leah Raad, SVP of Operations, Leasing, and Asset Management at Maslow’s Campus Communities, to unpack what it really takes to build a student housing platform from the ground up. Fresh off the acquisition of Aspire San Marcos, Leah shares how Maslow’s approached launching operations with a clean slate—covering everything from selecting a property management system to defining core operating principles. The conversation dives into the realities of modern leasing, the rapid evolution of marketing technology, and the importance of simplifying systems to empower onsite teams. They also explore the role of AI in student housing, where Leah offers a grounded perspective: automation should enhance efficiency, not replace the human experience that defines resident satisfaction. This episode is a practical look at how experienced operators are rethinking tech, staffing, and strategy in a fast-changing landscape.   ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:02:10 – Intro 00:03:58 – The "Un-retirement" of an Industry Icon 00:10:09 – Leah’s background in student housing and her journey to Maslow’s. 00:12:28 – Details on Maslow's first acquisition: Aspire San Marcos at Texas State University. 00:18:40 – The "One-Stop Shop" Tech Debate 00:23:44 – The Anti-AI Manifesto 00:27:23 – Killing the Spreadsheet 00:30:01 – Outro/Closing   🤝 Sponsor Spotlight This episode is brought to you by Opiniion – Social Pro, a social media and reputation management platform built specifically for property management teams. Social Pro allows operators to create content once and distribute it across multiple platforms, manage engagement through a unified inbox, and track performance with built-in analytics. With integrations like Canva and AI-assisted tools, it helps teams stay consistent, efficient, and on-brand across every property. 👉 Learn more and explore the platform: https://www.opiniion.com/shi   🔗 Resources & References:   Student Housing Insight: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/ ShopTalk: https://www.shoptalk.info/ Invite for Networking Brunch: https://www.studenthousinginsight.com/contact-form SHI Bill Bayless - Profiles in Student Housing: https://youtu.be/EAUqyIUrtok?si=J5G9X1FJX7gAAB_N Maslow’s Campus Communities: https://maslowscommunities.com/ Entrata: https://www.entrata.com/