From South Africa to Los Angeles to Park City – Brian Shirken on Timing, Execution and Reinvention

Brian Shirken’s journey has taken him from South Africa to Los Angeles to Park City—and through decades of real estate investing. On this episode of The Kirsh Connection, we discuss how he secured an institutional partner for his first deal, a 300,000-square-foot retail center in Columbus, Ohio; the roles of timing, luck and execution; and why the bubble of 2020–2022 was so difficult to recognize in the moment. Brian also shares advice for investors navigating challenging legacy deals, starting with identifying their unique skills and where they can add the most value.

We discuss:

• Landing an Institutional Partner for Your First Deal – How Brian capitalized his first deal—a 300,000-square-foot retail center in Columbus, Ohio—with an institutional partner
• Timing, Luck or Execution: What Matters Most? – How much of real estate success comes from buying at the right time, and how much comes from executing well? Brian shares his perspective
• Why Was the 2020–2022 Bubble So Hard to See? – Brian reflects on historically low interest rates and why he—and so many others—failed to recognize the bubble as it was forming
• Struggling With Legacy Deals? Start With Your Unique Skill Set – Brian’s advice for investors working through difficult acquisitions from the early 2020s: identify what you do best and where your skills can create value