5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies
16 - How a Former Teacher Built a Thriving Industrial Portfolio
September 23, 2025
In this episode of 5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies, host Jeff Rudner sits down with Jonathan Hayek, a commercial real estate investor and host of "The Source of Commercial Real Estate" podcast. Jonathan shares his remarkable journey from special education teacher to successful industrial real estate investor, offering actionable insights on transitioning careers, building wealth through real estate, and scaling from residential to commercial properties. He discusses overcoming limiting beliefs about income, creative financing strategies for new investors, and why he pivoted from small multifamily properties to net-leased industrial assets for true passive income.

In this episode of 5 to 50: Financial Strategies for Growing Companies, host Jeff Rudner sits down with Jonathan Hayek, a commercial real estate investor and host of "The Source of Commercial Real Estate" podcast. Jonathan shares his remarkable journey from special education teacher to successful industrial real estate investor, offering actionable insights on transitioning careers, building wealth through real estate, and scaling from residential to commercial properties. He discusses overcoming limiting beliefs about income, creative financing strategies for new investors, and why he pivoted from small multifamily properties to net-leased industrial assets for true passive income.


Episode Chapters:


00:00 From Teacher to Real Estate Investor
02:05 Why Real Estate?
05:08 First Deal Breakdown
10:46 Getting Comfortable with Debt
16:56 Transitioning to Industrial Properties
25:40 Why Syndications Are Struggling
29:20 Navigating Market Cycles
33:38 Real Estate Tax Benefits
36:30 Betting on Yourself
38:23 Rapid Fire Questions


Episode Resources:


Jonathan Hayke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hayek-cre/ 
Jonathan Hayke Website: jonathanhayek.co 
What It Takes by Steve Schwarzman (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/What-Takes-Lessons-Pursuit-Excellence/dp/1501158147 
BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast: https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcasts/real-estate 
Monday.com Project Management Software: https://monday.com/ 

"The Source of Commercial Real Estate" Podcast - Available on all podcast platforms

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Previous guests include: Sabrina Valle and Jessica Quon, co-founders of the Jam Stand and Mighty Picnic, Tom Hunt, Founder and CEO of Fame, Kenny Dettman, Founder and CEO of TaxNow, Rick Zullo, founder and managing partner of Equal Ventures, Adam Schwartz, founder and CEO of Parable and former co-founder of TeePublic.

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