Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the USC Lusk Annual Retreat.
Hosted by the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate, the retreat brought together developers, investors, economists, academics, policymakers, and real estate professionals for two days of thoughtful discussions on leadership, capital markets, housing, technology, education, and the future of the built environment.
Alumni and Industry Gather at the USC Lusk Retreat
The annual USC Lusk Retreat provides an opportunity for alumni, faculty, and industry leaders to reconnect, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful conversations about the forces shaping real estate today.
What makes these gatherings valuable is the diversity of perspectives in the room. Investors, developers, brokers, economists, academics, and public sector leaders all approach challenges differently. Those varied viewpoints often lead to the most insightful discussions.
Conversations Shaping the Future of Real Estate
Throughout the retreat, speakers addressed topics ranging from residential, commercial, and industrial real estate markets to leadership, public policy, demographics, education, and artificial intelligence.
Presentations and discussions featured respected leaders including Richard K. Green, Ivy Zelman, Sean Burton, Eric Garcetti, Mott Smith, Geoffrey Garrett, Beong-Soo Kim, and many others helping shape conversations around housing, investment, education, and economic development.
A recurring theme throughout the retreat was that the most important challenges facing our industry are interconnected.
Housing affordability impacts workforce mobility.
Capital markets influence development activity.
Public policy affects housing supply.
Technological innovation is changing how businesses operate and how cities evolve.
Understanding these relationships requires more than expertise in one area. It requires collaboration and a willingness to learn from others with different experiences and perspectives.
Why Continuous Learning Matters
One of the things I appreciated most was hearing thoughtful perspectives from people operating in completely different corners of the industry.
As a real estate advisor, it's easy to spend most of your time focused on transactions, local market conditions, and the day-to-day realities of serving clients. Events like the USC Lusk Annual Retreat are a reminder that our industry is shaped by much larger forces—from capital markets and public policy to technology, demographics, and leadership.
The best investors I know never stop learning.
The best developers remain students.
The best leaders stay curious and seek out perspectives that challenge their assumptions.
The retreat reinforced something I have come to believe over the years: growth rarely happens by staying inside your own lane. It comes from engaging with people who see the world differently, asking better questions, and remaining open to new ideas.
Looking Ahead
Experiences like these reinforce the importance of staying engaged with industry leaders, remaining intellectually curious, and continuing to invest in personal and professional growth.
In an industry that is constantly evolving, lifelong learning may be one of the most valuable investments we can make.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate?
The USC Lusk Center for Real Estate is one of the nation's leading academic centers dedicated to real estate research, education, public policy, and industry engagement. The center is part of the University of Southern California and hosts educational programs, conferences, and industry events throughout the year.
What is the USC Lusk Annual Retreat?
The USC Lusk Annual Retreat is a gathering of industry leaders, alumni, faculty, and professionals focused on discussions surrounding real estate markets, capital formation, public policy, leadership, technology, and economic trends impacting the built environment.
Jason Bergman and USC (University of Southern California)
During his time in the USC Ross Program in Real Estate at the University of Southern California, Jason Bergman was a member of the winning capstone team. The project required participants to analyze a complex development opportunity through the lenses of market feasibility, financial modeling, development strategy, and long-term community impact. The experience reinforced the importance of collaboration, disciplined analysis, and thoughtful execution in real estate decision-making.
About Jason Bergman
Jason Bergman is a Luxury Real Estate Advisor with The Agency serving Los Angeles, and Orange County. His work spans luxury residential real estate, multifamily investments, redevelopment opportunities, and advisory services for buyers, sellers, and investors.
Jason began his career at Marcus & Millichap, where he built a strong foundation in valuation, underwriting, and market structure. Since joining The Agency, he has established a respected practice defined by discretion and consistency, earning recognition from LA Style Magazine as one of the city's top real estate agents.
Jason is an alumni of the USC Ross Program In Real Estate through the USC Lusk Center and remains actively engaged in events, industry leadership, education, and community initiatives with the University and ranking among the top 1.5% of real estate agents nationwide by sales volume, as recognized by RealTrends Verified.
