2022 Industry Leaders: Mason Sleeper, The Praedium Group

Nominee’s Name & Job Title: Mason Sleeper, Co-CIO, Principal – Portfolio Management

Nominee’s Company/Affiliation: The Praedium Group

Nominee’s City & State of Employment: New York, NY

What is your management style?

I believe an inclusive and collaborative work environment fosters learning and growth. The whole Praedium team is included on weekly updates, and pipeline and asset management meetings. Having all functions of the firm involved throughout the lifecycle of an investment encourages learning opportunities and creates a more cohesive team. This fosters a dynamic environment in which junior team members can quickly grow their responsibilities.

What award were you most proud to receive?

I was proud when Praedium won the Multifamily Fund of the Year in 2019 from Refi US. The award was a testament to our team’s hard work on the acquisition and asset management front, as well as our focus on being good fiduciaries to our clients.

What was the most difficult experience you have encountered as a leader?

The COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty; we quickly had to pivot business operations to prioritize the health and safety of tenants, prospective renters, and on-site staff. Ensuring that our properties maintained operations while creating safe and healthy living environments necessitated increased hands-on asset management and communication across the Praedium team.

What advice would you give the next generation of leaders in your industry?

Having strong, trusting professional relationships is a cornerstone of success in this industry. The next generation of leaders should focus on connecting with their professional networks offline, vs. depending on the efficient communication technologies that initially enabled working from home during the height of the pandemic.