Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about sexual violence, forced marriage, honor violence, prostitution, deportation proceedings, depression, war, family trauma, and difficult cultural practices.
Amjad Pervez’s path to New York real estate started far from Manhattan. He grew up in a lower-middle-class military family in Pakistan, became a third-generation army man, served in a tank regiment, and eventually resigned as a captain even though leaving the army was far from simple. After moving to New York City, he drove a cab, taught himself web design after a chance meeting with a passenger, fought through immigration uncertainty, and rebuilt his life in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country.
In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall and Amjad trace the family story underneath that ambition, including the sacrifice of Amjad’s mother, the burden of sending money home, the transition from rentals to sales, more than $500 million in real estate transactions, and the question of how to pass grit to kids growing up in a very different world.
Chapters
00:00 Cold Open: Tank Driver to NYC Real Estate
00:47 Meet Amjad Pervez
01:18 Pakistan, Family Duty, and the Army
04:15 Leaving the Army and Coming to America
05:22 Cab Driver to Web Designer
06:13 Green Card Battle and Deportation Fear
12:13 9/11, NYC Real Estate, and First Deals
19:43 His Mother’s Story, $500M, and Legacy
