Neisen Kasdin, Miami Office Managing Partner, was recognized by the South Florida Business Journal for his impact in the Miami area through projects that have transformed the region. The publication noted, “Kasdin has arguably had as much impact on the revitalization of greater Miami than any developer or contractor in town.”
Kasdin, who previously served as Miami Beach mayor and commissioner, has helped spearhead South Beach’s renewal and chaired the New World Symphony in the development of the New World Center and Soundscape Park. Kasdin additionally served as vice chair of the Miami Downtown Development Authority.
“How has this [coronavirus pandemic] changed your leadership style?
It’s a work in progress. We spent the first few months getting adjusted and just learning how to function and be productive. Now, my thoughts are increasingly turning to how to make ourselves cohesive and continue to work as a team. Within the firm, partners have Webex conferences to meet and share ideas, and I’ve been reading publications that report on trends and what firms are doing. Leadership involves personal touch and feel. It’s not good enough to just read about it; you have to feel it in your gut. That motivates you to take action.
How do you keep innovation and curiosity alive in your organization?
It’s a combination of things. First, you want to hire people who are the best and the brightest, who have a real, inherent intellectual curiosity and a capacity to work, but also are good people. We have a deep interest in good public policy. That’s the characteristic of the vast majority of clients we represent – cutting-edge, transformative projects. People are excited to work on that. It helps with recruiting, and energizes people to work on projects. And that does more than just help business. You’re helping to build a great city.”