In the very first episode of NO ENTRY Level, host Jeremy Smith sits down with Ira Zlotowitz, Co Founder and CEO of GPARENCY and founder of Avery, to unpack how AI and automation are changing commercial real estate finance and what it now means to hire early career talent. Ira shares the journey from building a top ten commercial mortgage brokerage at Eastern Union to launching GPARENCY's flat fee mortgage assurance model and then spinning out Avery as an AI-first automation platform for acquisitions and financing.
From separating all human execution at GPARENCY from all tech at Avery, to creating a fixed fee structure that lets borrowers shop smarter and keep brokers and lenders in check, Ira explains why transparency, incentives, and AI tooling are reshaping how deals get done. He and Jeremy also dig into what skills young employees need to thrive in this new world and why roles like product builder and future Chief Automation Officers may become some of the most valuable jobs in the AI age.
Key Moments
00:54 Ira on GPARENCY's 4,500 dollar fixed fee mortgage assurance model
01:56 Why most commercial real estate borrowers leave money on the table
03:05 How building Eastern Union revealed coming disruption from tech and AI
03:56 Spinning Avery out of GPARENCY as an independent AI automation platform
04:32 How Avery supports acquisitions, pipelines, and DIY financing for clients
05:24 The QuickBooks style model of do it yourself, do it with help, or full service
06:56 Why GPARENCY charges a fixed fee with no ulterior motive for borrowers
08:10 Ira's hiring filter around AI enthusiasm and being a driver or co pilot for change
10:12 Jeremy describes Pega6 as a one year, AI first alternative to traditional college
11:18 The emerging product builder role that blends product, engineering, and design
12:32 Ira's vision for the future Chief Automation Officer as a top leadership role
Why You Will Love This Episode
A concise, practical look at how AI, automation, and new business models are transforming both commercial real estate finance and the expectations for early career employees, ideal for founders, hiring managers, and ambitious professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve.
About NO ENTRY Level By Pega6
NO ENTRY Level is the podcast where the future of early career work gets real. Produced by Pega6, each episode features founders, operators, and talent leaders who are using AI, automation, and new hiring models to rethink what entry level roles look like and how to build teams that are ready for the jobs of tomorrow.