Bill Douglas doesn't sugarcoat it: most CRE owners are sitting on a goldmine of data they don't control, don't understand, and can't monetize while vendors quietly profit from it.

In this episode, the CEO of OpticWise and co-author of Peak Property Performance pulls back the curtain on the messy reality of digital strategy in commercial real estate. From buildings running 17 systems on 13 networks with zero integration, to property management firms recommending tech they've invested in without disclosure, Bill breaks down the conflicts of interest and missed opportunities that are costing owners millions.

Bill also opens up about his near-death skiing experience, his wife's cancer battle, and why he lives by the motto: "Life is a gift. Work to live, don't live to work."

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by vendor pitches, suspicious of PropTech promises, or unsure how to turn building data into actual NOI, this conversation will give you the framework to take control.

Show Notes:

0:10: Introducing Bill Douglas

1:39: Skiing and fatherhood - the "truth serum" of ski lifts

4:17: Why the CRE industry is at a critical crossroads

8:23: Status quo bias and why owners wait for fines to act

12:05: Case Study - 17 systems, $50K+ wasted, hidden savings

15:47: The 5C method for digital strategy

20:25: Dreamers on stage vs. doers in the audience

24:50: The AI bubble and 12 critical questions for vendors

37:08: Who should be the digital champion inside your firm?

40:38: Why do firms ghost vendors then scramble last minute?

47:31: How Bill unplugs and the gift of life

52:07: "Busy doesn't mean successful" - rethinking work-life balance

57:33: Ryan's takeaways

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at ⁠www.creunplugged.com⁠ for all the latest news and updates. Have thoughts or suggestions?

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This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, ⁠HILO⁠, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

How AI is transforming pre-construction, and why precision matters as much as speed in construction tech.

A conversation on AI, risk reduction, and building durable software for real estate development.

In this Founder Series episode, Ryan Elazari sits down with Paul Zeckser, Co-Founder and CEO of LightTable, to explore how AI is changing one of the most expensive and error-prone phases of real estate development: pre-construction.

Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Paul shares why building the company later in his career shaped everything from product focus to pricing, and why precision is the real advantage in construction tech.

The discussion spans the challenge of building vertical software as foundational models evolve, what it takes to earn adoption across developers, architects, and contractors, and why in-person collaboration still matters as the industry enters its next technology cycle.

Show Notes:

00:00 – Introducing Paul Zeckser

02:37 – Why building a company later in your career can be an advantage

06:01 – Assembling teams with deep domain expertise

08:33 – Leadership, transparency, and prioritizing goals over being liked

10:16 – Why most construction problems originate in pre-construction

15:40 – Can vertical solutions survive as foundation models evolve?

20:37 – Why LightTable chose unlimited-user pricing over traditional SaaS

24:05 – Being bullish on the office: collaboration, culture, and outcomes

28:32 – CU Boulder, the Deming Center, and a full-circle founder moment

31:10 – Postgame Recap

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates.

Have thoughts or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn and Instagram!

Interested in being featured on the Founders’ Series?

We’re always looking to spotlight bold leaders and founders who are building the future of commercial real estate. If you’re solving real problems, challenging outdated norms, or reshaping how this industry operates, we want to hear from you.

In the debut of the Founders’ Series, Ryan and Nadine sit down with William Sankey, CEO of Northspyre, to unpack what it really takes to build a tech company inside one of the most conservative industries: commercial real estate.

William shares the moment he knew he had to build Northspyre, the messy leap from idea to execution, and whether, after a decade of lessons, he would choose the founder path again. They explore hiring for intangibles, why CRE negotiates SaaS contracts like construction deals, and how developers succeed or stumble when pivoting into hot asset classes like data centers and affordable housing.

He also highlights the industry shifts people are overlooking, from the real impact of AI to the regulatory pressures that will shape the future of development.

If you want an unfiltered look at what it takes to build in CRE, this episode delivers.

Show Notes:

00:10: Welcome to the Founders’ Series

2:04: Introducing William Sankey

2:31: “I have to build this”: William’s origin moment

11:09: From idea to execution: the messy middle

17:14: Would he become a founder again?

21:30: Hiring for intangibles in an early-stage company

30:44: Why negotiating SaaS contracts in CRE is so uniquely challenging

34:40: Developers chasing “hot” asset classes: when it works and when it burns

40:39: Underhyped shifts: AI, regulation, and capital

47:14: Postgame Recap (actionable insights)

50:06: Closing thoughts & where to reach us

If you love what you hear, please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us grow and improve!

Be sure to visit our website at www.creunplugged.com for all the latest news and updates.

Have thoughts or suggestions?

We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at info@creunplugged.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel at @CREUnplugged1 and be sure to follow CRE Unplugged on LinkedIn and Instagram!

Interested in being featured on the Founders’ Series?

We’re always looking to spotlight bold leaders and founders who are building the future of commercial real estate. If you’re solving real problems, challenging outdated norms, or reshaping how the real estate industry operates, we want to hear from you.