We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shant Samuelian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shant, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Shant didn’t stumble into real estate, he was thrown straight into the deep end. Fresh out of school, he went to work for one of the largest developers in the country, a man who plays the game at the highest level. The projects were huge, the stakes were higher, and there was no room for mistakes. Shant learned fast. Over the years, he helped bring more than $450 million worth of developments to life, towers, apartments, mixed-use hubs. But amid all the glitz and spreadsheets, Shant noticed something: the deals that truly changed neighborhoods weren’t always the most expensive ones. They were the affordable housing projects, rare, complex, and often overlooked.

So he pitched an idea: start an Affordable Housing branch within the firm. No one else was doing it, and it was risky. But he built it from the ground up, chasing public funding, navigating LIHTC applications, forging partnerships with cities, and delivering real homes for real people. Within a few years, the division was winning competitive awards, funding half a billion in development in Los Angeles and turning heads across the industry.

Eventually, Shant knew it was time to bet on himself. He founded Samuelian Group in 2025 at the age of 25, carrying forward the high-stakes discipline he’d learned from his mentor, but with a mission of his own: develop projects that help solve the housing crisis in Los Angeles. Today, Samuelian Group has over 100 Million in affordable housing development it is working on, all of which are in Los Angeles, and proving that no matter your age you can make a difference.

Shant, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always loved real estate. As a kid, I was building entire cities out of Legos, imagining how buildings, streets, and communities could fit together. That fascination continued through high school, when I worked at a brokerage and got hands-on experience with how properties are bought, sold, and valued.

I went on to study Real Estate Development at USC, where I deepened my understanding of urban planning, finance, and project execution, and built connections that would shape my career. After graduating, I went to work for one of the largest developers in the country, as I mentioned before. There, I learned the ins and outs of high-stakes development and helped oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in projects. As I mentioned before, I also built and led the firm’s Affordable Housing division. Even though I was young, I saw an opportunity to make a real impact and knew I had the skills and vision to create something meaningful. From lots of hard work and my passion for the industry I was able to earn recognition across the industry.

Even at my young age, I knew I could build something of my own (where I have been called “The Rookie of the Year 2025 for Real Estate”). That drive led me to found Samuelian Group, where we focus on affordable housing in Los Angeles.

Any advice for managing a team?

I believe you are only as strong as your team, so I prioritize treating my team with respect and ensuring everyone clearly sees our vision and goals. Everyone I bring on board is genuinely passionate about what we do, and I’ve found that the best way to lead is to keep the team aligned with the mission. When people truly care about the work and the impact we’re making, they manage themselves and that’s when we achieve the greatest results together.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing I had to unlearn is the idea that experience always comes with age. Early on, people often told me I was too young to lead, too inexperienced to handle complex projects, or that I wouldn’t be taken seriously. The world seemed to have a script: young people can’t have vision, can’t make big decisions, can’t lead. I had to let go of that mindset, not internalize it and prove to myself that knowledge, drive, and creativity aren’t dictated by age. Leading the Affordable Housing division at my first company, and now running Samuelian Group, taught me that if you have the vision, the focus, and the willingness to work relentlessly, you can achieve impact far beyond what people expect from someone “young.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://samueliangroup.com
• Linkedin: https://samueliangroup.com/