Product Description

"Julien Studley is one of the great leaders in the real estate industry. He built a thriving business based upon hard work, creativity, integrity, and skill. In a time when the news is full of corporate scandal and executive excess, it is gratifying to read Julien Studley's story-he has always focused on doing the right thing. As Julien's career and life amply attest, how you conduct business is integral to your success. Julien's talent is unique and his story inspirational."
--Jerry I. Speyer
President and CEO
Tishman Speyer Properties

"An intimate portrait of Julien Studley, a man whose keen intellect, ambition, and courage have made him into one of the most successful business leaders of our time-a true real estate visionary."
--Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO)

Julien Studley's story is much more than a standard corporate biography. It is, in fact, a riveting tale of late twentieth century corporate America, a time in which America's global business dominance was built on the vision and sacrifice of individualists who were strong, stubborn, and above all, resourceful. Shaping the Skyline examines Studley's long and distinguished career and reveals his unique approach to real estate, negotiating strategies, leadership, and management that have led him to create one of the most successful commercial real estate companies in the nation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1828840 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-16
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .1 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

From the Inside Flap
JULIEN STUDLEY has had a profound impact on the skyline of America, an impact that continues to this day. Yet this brilliant real estate pioneer never designed an office building, nor constructed a skyscraper. What are the secrets to his success?

Shaping the Skyline is the compelling story of how Julien Studley transformed himself from an unschooled immigrant into the founder of one of the nation’s most successful commercial real estate companies. Written by globally known real estate writer Peter Hellman, this fascinating book draws on Hellman’s hundreds of hours of interviews with Studley, along with friends both in and out of the business world (since, almost to a person, those who know Julien Studley consider him a friend), to reveal the deeply personal story of a man who:

• Fled Belgium at age twelve to escape Nazi persecution, mattresses strapped to the roof of the family car for protection against German strafing
• Founded his New York City real estate brokerage in 1954 with a focus on representing tenants rather than owners
• Foresaw the upcoming boom in office construction that would bring on a new wave of tenants needing skilled and determined advocacy
• Shrewdly–and ever so quietly–gained control between 1969 and 1973 over the New York City block that would become the landmark Citicorp Center
• Pioneered the concept of "teaming" to grow his fledgling enterprise into a commercial real estate powerhouse
• Watched in horror as his firm’s 86th floor World Trade Center office–along with two beloved employees–were lost during 9/11

Julien Studley’s story is much more than a standard corporate biography. It is, in fact, a riveting tale of late twentieth century corporate America, a time in which America’s global business dominance was built on the vision and sacrifice of individualists who were strong, stubborn, and above all, resourceful. Shaping the Skyline reveals how Julien Studley created a unique corporate culture in which men and women from unlikely backgrounds–ranging from a dental hygienist to a dancer–were empowered to successfully and repeatedly pull off complex and lucrative deals with million-dollar payoffs. Through its detailed and dramatic personal insights into how Studley and his team conceived and executed deals of great complexity, you’ll learn about what it really takes to achieve breakthrough success in corporate America–and an MBA is not required.

From the Back Cover
"Julien Studley is one of the great leaders in the real estate industry. He built a thriving business based upon hard work, creativity, integrity, and skill. In a time when the news is full of corporate scandal and executive excess, it is gratifying to read Julien Studley’s story–he has always focused on doing the right thing. As Julien’s career and life amply attest, how you conduct business is integral to your success. Julien’s talent is unique and his story inspirational."
—Jerry I. Speyer
President and CEO
Tishman Speyer Properties

"An intimate portrait of Julien Studley, a man whose keen intellect, ambition, and courage have made him into one of the most successful business leaders of our time–a true real estate visionary."
—Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO)

Julien Studley’s story is much more than a standard corporate biography. It is, in fact, a riveting tale of late twentieth century corporate America, a time in which America’s global business dominance was built on the vision and sacrifice of individualists who were strong, stubborn, and above all, resourceful. Shaping the Skyline examines Studley’s long and distinguished career and reveals his unique approach to real estate, negotiating strategies, leadership, and management that have led him to create one of the most successful commercial real estate companies in the nation.

About the Author
PETER HELLMAN is an award-winning journalist and author. He was a features writer for New York magazine and today contributes to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications. He is the coauthor (with Albert Seedman) of the bestselling Chief!