Senior Associate
Gridline Properties
Felipe Azenha’s career began in the international wealth management sector working for banks such as ABN AMRO, Itaú Private Bank and HSBC Private Bank. While that experience helped hone his client-first philosophy, a lingering passion for real estate led him to pursue a master’s in Real Estate Development and Urbanism from the University of Miami in 2012. Subsequently, he dove into the dynamic world of real estate while working for StreetEasy and Zillow, following their acquisition of StreetEasy in 2013.
His dedication to the industry and entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Gridics, a commercial real estate zoning technology company. During his tenure as the director of business development, Azenha established strategic partnerships with real estate developers, brokers, attorneys and municipalities, collaborating with the business development and product teams at partner companies. He later ventured into the realm of fitness innovation and co-founded CinderFit, a revolutionary patented fitness product. Amidst his career journey, Azenha launched ‘The Built World’, a podcast dedicated to engaging in insightful conversations with South Florida’s most successful commercial real estate professionals.
Azenha’s commitment to academia and mentorship is exemplified through his role as an advisory board member for the University of Miami’s Master of Real Estate Development and Urbanism program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Syracuse University and two master’s degrees: one in organizational management from the School for International Training and the other in real estate development and urbanism from the University of Miami. Beyond his professional pursuits, Azenha’s altruistic spirit led him to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and embark on a transformative self-supported 1,000-mile bike journey from Guatemala to Panama. He finds fulfillment in his 14-year marriage to his wife and nurturing their son, who shares his parent’s sense of humor. Azenha is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
Stephen is a member of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Medical District Guest House Foundation. He served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village of Glencoe, Illinois and was the co-chairman of the Village of Glencoe Caucus. He also served on the Board of the West Central Association in Chicago, and on the Chicago Near South Planning Board, where he was co-chairman of the Project Review Committee.
