Leading in Tough Times: William Rudin, Rudin

Throughout the month of August, Connect CRE is running a series titled “Leading in Tough Times.” We’ve asked leaders around the U.S. and across the commercial real estate spectrum to share their wisdom and discuss lessons learned. In this installment, you’ll hear from William Rudin, co-chairman and CEO of Rudin:

As a longtime owner, manager and developer in New York City, we certainly have experienced multiple market cycles over the decades.

One thing I have noticed is that people respond well to – and are inspired by – a hands-on style of leadership. I always strive to be accessible and approachable to everyone at Rudin, as well as our partners and clients. I try to keep a strong pulse on the needs of our teams.

At Rudin, our employees have always been our greatest asset. I take a lot of pride in fostering a culture in which everyone feels empowered, and every person knows their individual contributions are valued throughout our organization. Our people need to feel comfortable sharing their ideas, which in turn, drives the innovation that propels our business forward.

As a leader, I strive to remain nimble in the face of new and unforeseen challenges. The only constant is that change is inevitable, and it’s more important than ever that we’re flexible and responsive to current market dynamics.

If you know me, you know I’m an eternal optimist, forever bullish on New York City and its future. As my father always said, don’t bet against New York! There’s no other city like it in the world. Of course, it is important to be realistic about the challenges we face, but my belief is that by focusing on what’s possible, we can power through adversity.

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