What does it take to build a successful real estate career across borders and industries? We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Zeynep A. Talu-Balci, an FIU Chapman Graduate School of Business alumna, entrepreneur, and global real estate strategist, for a conversation that spanned continents, industries and philosophies. Our conversation went beyond just a discussion about buildings and markets, but a rich tapestry of vision, values, and the power of seeing the world (and its spaces) through a more intentional lens.
“How you present a brand or a country can shape how the world receives it.”
A Foundation Built Across Continents
Talu-Balci’s story began in Istanbul, a city she describes as “magical,” where “East meets West and two continents converge.” From there, her upbringing unfolded between London and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, inside a corporate compound for international talent. This opportunity came through her father’s engineering work with Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company. “Living in a company compound designed for global talent gave me early exposure to international communities and the infrastructure that powers economies,” she said. Just outside those walls, however, she saw a different reality. At that time, women weren’t permitted to work or even drive. That contrast taught her to navigate limitations and, more importantly, how to reimagine them.
Before real estate ever entered the picture, Talu-Balci carved her path in international trade. She worked as a trade show organizer building national pavilions for Turkish exporters in markets others often overlooked. These experiences taught her the power of positioning. “How you present a brand or a country can shape how the world receives it,” she noted.
In 2013, Talu-Balci made a bold move in her personal and professional life, deciding to relocate to the United States, landing in Miami, a city she calls “a place that thrives on reinvention and rewards vision.” However, she didn’t just change countries, she changed careers. She immersed herself in real estate, earning two graduate degrees in the field, and then launched MAKOS Real Estate, her own firm. “Real estate became my new canvas,” she explained. “Founding MAKOS allowed me to bring it all together, my global lens, my passion for storytelling, and my belief that development should be as human as it is strategic.”
“My belief is that real estate, when done with care and creativity, doesn’t just shape skylines. It shapes the stories we leave behind.”
Reimagining Real Estate as Storytelling
With MAKOS Real Estate as her platform, Talu-Balci began weaving together narrative and strategy to approach development through a more holistic lens. “My belief is that real estate, when done with care and creativity, doesn’t just shape skylines. It shapes the stories we leave behind,” she said.
This philosophy is what sets her apart in the field. For Talu-Balci, real estate is not just about floor plans and figures, it’s about meaning. “Real estate is not just a financial model. It is a belief system in concrete.” She prioritizes not only data and design but also context, community, and intent when evaluating a project’s merit.
Talu-Balci’s Transformative Journey Through FIU’s Master of Science in International Real Estate
While her international background laid the foundation, it was her experience at FIU that gave her the technical toolkit to begin thriving in the real estate industry. Talu-Balci credits the Master of Science in International Real Estate program for not only deepening her understanding of development and investment, but also for connecting her with a dynamic and driven network of peers.
That connection extended well beyond graduation. Talu-Balci and her classmates helped take the FIU Alumni initiative to the next level, organizing events that brought together former students and industry professionals to share insights, opportunities and support. One of their recent gatherings welcomed more than 100 attendees, a testament to the strong and growing community they helped build.
Her academic journey at FIU also took her across borders, including a memorable trip to Germany where she joined a real estate strategy simulation in partnership with the University of Regensburg. “It was magical. Like the whole trip was completely magical,” she said. For Talu-Balci, the program wasn’t just about mastering real estate principles. It was about stepping into a global arena with confidence, clarity and a community that still shows up for one another.
“We are not just building a platform. We as SheWork are building a movement. One voice, one story, one woman at a time.”
Creating Space for Women to Lead
Talu-Balci’s leadership extends beyond property development. Through her platform SheWork, she is helping redefine what it means for women to lead in traditionally male-dominated industries. The initiative was born from a shared vision among friends in Berlin, Connecticut and Miami to build something bigger than a platform. “We are not just building a platform. We as SheWork are building a movement. One voice, one story, one woman at a time,” she said.
Her commitment to SheWork is deeply personal. Having grown up in environments where visibility was not always granted, Talu-Balci is intentional about creating spaces where women can be seen, heard, and supported. “That’s why this matters so much to me,” she explained. “I know the difference it makes when someone says, I see you, I believe in your story.” Through mentorship, digital storytelling and international collaboration, SheWork is a reflection of her mission to elevate women not just as professionals, but as visionaries.
Looking ahead, Talu-Balci envisions SheWork hosting gatherings around the globe, creating environments that feel intentional, inclusive, and forward-thinking.
“I know the difference it makes when someone says, I see you, I believe in your story.”
Spotting Trends Before They’re Headlines
Just as she builds platforms for women, Talu-Balci also has a strong instinct for identifying under-the-radar market trends in real estate. She’s quick to point out that the most promising developments often don’t come with headlines. “Sometimes they rise quietly, layer by layer, like a skyline in slow motion, until one day you look up and realize something meaningful has taken shape.”
One such market on her radar is North Bay Village, a three-island municipality in South Florida that she refers to as “Brickell 2.0.” But she’s clear that the comparison isn’t about replication. “Not because it will replicate the skyline, but because it holds the same potent combination of location, waterfront access, and reinvention,” she said. Talu-Balci sees potential where others see placeholders, describing the area as a “blank canvas with billion-dollar views.”
Her firm recently launched The Heart of the Bay, a digital hub documenting the area’s transformation in real time. For Zeynep, market insight isn’t about chasing hype. It’s about understanding trajectory, reading where culture, economics, and development intersect before the rest of the industry catches up.
“Most of the meaningful steps in my career did not come when I felt ready. They came when I was brave enough to move anyway.”
Leading with Vision and Courage
For Talu-Balci, building a career has never been about waiting for the perfect plan. In fact, some of her most meaningful steps have happened without one. She credits a close friend and mentor, Evan Piper, a successful businessman, former mayor of North Miami Beach, and licensed pilot, with giving her a piece of advice that continues to guide her: “We will plan on the fly.” Though it may sound simple, those words shaped how she approaches opportunity, uncertainty, and risk.
“You do not have to have the full flight plan before takeoff,” she said. “You need direction, yes, but what you need even more is willingness. Willingness to take off. To course correct. To trust your instincts mid-air.”
That mindset has served her through career pivots, international ventures and ambitious projects that began long before blueprints were finalized. “Most of the meaningful steps in my career did not come when I felt ready,” she said. “They came when I was brave enough to move anyway.” It is a philosophy grounded not in recklessness, but in trusting momentum and growth, pushing yourself to that next level.
To those just beginning their real estate journeys, Talu-Balci offers this: “Lead with curiosity, not just calculation… Show up, follow up and write the thank-you note.” Relationships, in her view, are the true foundation of the industry. Her parting reminder is powerful. “You are not here to follow the blueprint. You are here to help redraw the skyline.”
Talu-Balci’s journey is still unfolding. This fall, she will return to FIU once again, this time to pursue a Doctorate of Business Administration degree. It’s a full-circle moment that reflects not just her commitment to continuous learning, but also her desire to lead with deeper impact in the industry she loves. As one of Miami’s most thoughtful real estate voices, Talu-Balci continues to shape the future of development with strategy, empathy, and purpose. Her story is far from over, but already, it’s helping to redraw the skyline.
If you are interested in learning more about the program that helped Talu-Balci launch her career in real estate or you want to pursue an education beyond the master’s, seeking the highest level in academic achievement, you can learn more about our programs below.