In this powerful and inspiring episode of The Bob Knakal Show, Bob sits down with Bruce Mosler, Chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on everything from real estate evolution, leadership, negotiation, and the future of brokerage—to personal stories of grit, setbacks, comebacks, and legacy.
Bruce shares untold stories from his journey, including the rise of boutique shops like Riverbank, the transformative acquisition of Cushman & Wakefield, and managing through the 2008 financial crisis. He opens up about the lessons learned from failures, his favorite deal ever, and why negotiation is more about people than power.
▶️ Whether you're a young broker or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with actionable insights, rare wisdom, and inspiration that will change how you think about real estate, leadership, and longevity.
💡 IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 – Introduction: Bob Knakal & Bruce Mosler
03:00 – Bruce's NYC childhood and early career moves
06:45 – The grind of brokerage and importance of mentorship
09:15 – The rise of Riverbank and navigating boutique vs. global
15:30 – Becoming CEO of Cushman & Wakefield
18:20 – Managing through 2008: Real leadership under pressure
20:45 – The power of pitching and teamwork
24:30 – Bruce’s negotiation strategy
27:10 – Favorite deal: The complex, high-stakes Reuters transaction
33:00 – Personal passions: Montauk, fishing, and his coffee table book
38:00 – Final advice for young brokers
📚 Mentioned in the Episode:
Cushman & Wakefield
Riverbank
Steve Siegel’s book
Reuters / Rudin deal
BKREA by Bob Knakal
👥 Special Thanks to:
The Bob Knakal Show is brought to you by Crexi – The most powerful platform to prospect, evaluate, connect & close in CRE.
📌 FOLLOW US:
LinkedIn: Bob Knakal
Instagram: @BobKnakalNYC
Twitter/X: @BobKnakal
Website: bkrea.com
📣 Don’t forget to Like, Comment & Share this episode with a colleague, broker, or mentor who needs to hear this!
#RealEstateBrokerage #BruceMosler #BobKnakal #CRE #CushmanWakefield #OfficeLeasing #Leadership #BrokerLife #BKREA #NegotiationTips #CareerAdvice #Montauk #NewYorkCity #CrexiPartnerConnect with Bob:
🔔 Subscribe to my Newsletter:
https://linktr.ee/bobknakalnycLinkedIn:
/ bobknakal Facebook:
/ bobknakalnyc Instagram:
/ bobknakalnyc Twitter:
/ bobknakal #nycrealestate #investmentsalesnyc #capitalmarkets #bobknakal