E24: Emotional Openness in Entrepreneurship with Fort Capital’s Founder – Chris Powers

One of Fort Capital’s core values is resilience, something its founder Chris Powers knows well. In this episode, Chris joins Kyle to talk about his personal and professional journeys, from navigating the loss of his father and wrestling with society’s expectations about men’s emotions to key career moments and the decision to focus on Class B industrial real estate. Chris emphasizes the importance of mental health, his challenges in real estate entrepreneurship, and the power of self-awareness. These things, Chris shares, helped him transition from a hands-on CEO to chairman of his multibillion-dollar real estate investment firm, Fort Capital. Highlights include Chris’ definition of success, the value of emotional vulnerability, and building relationships to grow personally and professionally.

00:00 Introduction
01:04 Fort Capital's Success
02:03 The Realities of Property Management
07:45 Powers' Background and Influences
12:21 Parenting Philosophy
25:27 Powers' Early Life and College Years
28:46 Starting a Real Estate Empire
31:35 Nostalgia and Risk-Taking in Youth
31:51 The Early Days of Real Estate Ventures
33:19 Navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis
36:32 The Unique Path of an Entrepreneur
41:06 Personal Growth and Family Legacy
49:57 Dealing with Loss and Moving Forward
01:05:15 The Shift to Class B Industrial Real Estate
01:10:42 Transitioning from CEO to Chairman
01:17:11 The Power of Podcasting
01:20:53 The Essence of Persistence
01:36:28 Future Aspirations and Embracing Change