Brian Starck - Executive Vice Chairman, Cushman & Wakefield

Brian Starck: From Pre-Med to the Top of Life Sciences BrokerageBrian Starck was accepted to medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. He had studied molecular and cellular biology at UC Davis, worked in a laboratory for three years, and expected to become a doctor.He never went.Instead, Brian chose commercial real estate — a decision his parents warned might end in failure. Today, he is Executive Vice Chairman at Cushman & Wakefield in San Diego and global leader of the firm's Life Sciences practice. His clients and assignments have included major pharmaceutical and technology companies, and he has been one of Cushman & Wakefield's leading producers. In this conversation, Brian and David discuss:Why he walked away from medical school for commercial real estateNearly quitting brokerage during the Great Financial CrisisHow he deliberately built a specialty in life sciencesWinning Alexandria as a client early in his careerWhy understanding the science gives him an edgeWhat makes San Diego's life sciences ecosystem uniqueThe 467,000-square-foot Novartis build-to-suitThe boom, bust and recovery of life sciences real estateHow AI could transform drug development — and eventually the laboratory itselfWhat young brokers get wrong about building a careerWhy Brian believes personal health, relationships and balance actually matter to brokerage successSurfing, backcountry skiing, family — and whether he'd still choose medicine in an alternate universeBrian's career is a fascinating example of what can happen when a broker combines deep subject-matter knowledge with specialization, persistence and an entrepreneurial approach to the business.Real Brokers. Real Stories.