The Rising Stars Award recognizes outstanding young leaders in real estate
I HousingWire The Rising Stars Award recognizes emerging leaders age 40 and under who are driving measurable progress across real estate, real estate and real estate. These professionals don’t just improve their careers – they influence how teams work, how technology is used and how the real estate ecosystem evolves.
As nominations for the 2026 HousingWire Rising Stars award open on Feb. 28, we revisit interviews with recent honorees to illustrate the real-world impact of these recognitions.
In the Q&A below, Daniel Butbul, vice president of technology at Systatohe shares how his role has expanded, the initiatives that strengthen his team and the leadership qualities he believes will define the industry’s next generation.
HousingWire: Since being named a Rising Star, how has your role or career evolved?
Daniel Butbul: Since being named a Rising Star, my role as vice president at Systato has continued to grow in tandem with the growth of the company. In the past year, we have nearly doubled our company roster and tripled the size of our technology and software development organization. My focus, along with growing a world-class team of real estate professionals, has been focused on building scalable platforms, leading diverse teams, and helping organizations translate automation and data into real operational and financial results.
HousingWire: What project, initiative or achievement are you most excited about right now?
DB: I am very excited about the work we are doing to help brokerages and lending companies strengthen MSA’s joint ventures and operations. By combining data from both sides into a shared data layer, we provide leaders with a clear understanding of where interactions really stand at the agent, office, manager and borrower level. That appears to allow parties to intervene early, improve acquisitions, and ultimately build profitable and sustainable mortgage-brokerage partnerships.
HousingWire: What skills or experiences are most important to your growth in the real estate industry?
DB: Hands-on experience has been fundamental to my growth. My philosophy has always been to learn before you commit. Raising your hand for new challenges, learning how work really works, even if you’re not perfect at it, transferring it successfully has helped me connect the dots across careers, technology and leadership. In the age of LLMs, it is easier than ever to quickly acquire new skills with a chatbot that acts as a tutor and research partner, making knowledge an even more important factor.
HousingWire: What advice would you give to early-career professionals who want to make an impact in co-op, real estate or homebuilding?
DB: Always be curious and don’t shy away from complexity. Great opportunities come from understanding how the business really works, not just your individual role. Learn the basics, take ownership and focus on solving real problems. Impact follows those who are willing to do the work and continually improve the way it is done.
HousingWire: When you think about the next generation of Rising Stars, what qualities or characteristics do you think set the future leaders apart?
DB: The next generation of leaders will be characterized by flexibility, strategic thinking and strong judgment. Comfort with data and emerging tools like AI will be important, but it will not replace the need for critical thinking, empathy and operational understanding. Those who can balance innovation and execution, and lead people through change rather than talk about it, will define the future of the industry.
Click here to submit the 2026 Rising Star.
