Meet Jaebadiah S. Gardner, an African-American, Mexican-American businessman, multi-family real estate developer, fund manager, and author. He is the Founder & CEO of GardnerGlobal, Inc., a privately held holding company headquartered in Seattle, WA. Jaebadiah earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and later a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Western Michigan Law School. Before venturing into development, Jaebadiah worked for Turner Construction, building commercial high-rises in downtown Seattle. Since 2009, he has built a client base of private and non-profit clients, providing feasibility, pre-development, and development services. Jaebadiah was recently selected as a 2022-2023 LISC/Amazon fellow and currently oversees a pipeline of over 800 units with total project costs exceeding $300 million in Seattle's most gentrified neighborhoods.

Jaebadiah stopped by The Day With Trae, hosted this week by Besa Gordon, to discuss commercial real estate, ownership, Black wealth, and affordable housing. During the conversation, he shared his extensive knowledge and personal experiences in the real estate industry, emphasizing the crucial role that affordable housing plays in building strong, sustainable communities. Jaebadiah highlighted the systemic challenges that Black individuals face in achieving homeownership and wealth accumulation, offering strategic solutions for overcoming these barriers. His insights underscored the importance of intentional investment in commercial real estate as a pathway to economic empowerment and the creation of generational wealth within the Black community. Through practical advice and real-world examples, Jaebadiah demonstrated how strategic real estate investments can lead to significant, positive impacts on both individual lives and broader societal equity.