Stephen Bittel: Leading Terranova & Empowering Women

In this episode of Women Influencers, I sit down with Stephen Bittel, the founder of Terranova, an opportunistic alternative investment firm with a core focus on U.S. real estate. Stephen shares his journey from his humble beginnings in Miami to becoming the Chairman & Founder of a billion dollar corporation. He talks about his time at Bowdoin College, where he developed a strong work ethic that would shape his entrepreneurial success. After a year in Europe studying foreign investment, Stephen studied Law at the University of Miami while working full time at a Commercial Real Estate Firm. When he was offered an opportunity to go from a salaried position to commission, he decided instead to quit and found the company that would become Terranova.Stephen discusses his challenges in the early years, including market crashes, high debt, and the risks of entrepreneurship. Despite these struggles, he managed to build Terranova into a successful firm with a large portfolio of properties and an expansive team.A key part of Stephen’s story is his commitment to choosing the right person for the job based on merit, which happened to lead to the next 3 presidents succeeding him all being women. The first of which was Beth Azor, who hosts the annual Women’s Real Estate Investment Summit. Stephen emphasizes that women should have a seat at the table in all industries. He also shares his perspective on the importance of mentorship, hard work, and perseverance, particularly during tough economic times.Stephen’s advice to young professionals: find a mentor whose values align with yours, be willing to put in the work, and always be prepared for the next opportunity. His story of resilience, vision, and leadership offers valuable lessons for anyone striving for success in business and beyond.“The key is the right mentor.” - Stephen BittelConnect with Veronica:https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccimhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/Connect with Stephen:Instagram: @terranovacorp LinkedIn: Terranova Corporation  LinkedIn: @stephenbittel #womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #Investments #Terranova