Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brett Hagler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brett, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
I grew up in a middle class family in Florida, but my perspective shifted dramatically when I witnessed extreme poverty firsthand. At 21, I found myself in Haiti after the earthquake, standing in what remained of someone’s home – dirt floors, tarps for walls, a family of eight in a space smaller than most American bedrooms. That moment affected me and redirected what my purpose could be.
So at 25, with zero nonprofit experience but plenty of naive optimism, I co-founded New Story. We started in a garage, working nights and weekends while keeping our day jobs. The odds were stacked against us – young, inexperienced, attacking one of the world’s most complex problems. But sometimes being too naive to know what’s “impossible” is exactly what you need.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Housing isn’t just about shelter. It’s the foundation for everything. Health, education, economic opportunity, family stability. Yet 1.8 billion people lack adequate housing, and traditional charity can’t even dent 20% of that need.
We’re flipping the script. Instead of treating families as beneficiaries waiting for handouts, we see them as customers with dignity and agency. Our evolved model combines philanthropy with market forces – making land ownership accessible, unlocking home financing, creating neighborhoods where families thrive.
We’re fundamentally rewiring how affordable housing works in Latin America. We’re talking about thousands of households, dozens of new neighborhoods, millions invested in underserved markets, hundreds of local jobs created.
But here’s what excites me most: when low-income families become landowners, everything changes. Take Gabriela who lives in one of our neighborhoods in El Salvador; she went from a home with spotty electricity to completing her university degree and launching her career, because she had a safe and stable home. That’s generational change.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Courage Is In Far Shorter Supply Than Genius
I wasn’t the smartest, most experienced, most well funded person in the room when I started New Story. But I had the courage to try and do something different. That type of courage attracts the right people and the right resources to make a difference. My advice is this: Don’t wait until you feel ready. The world needs your courage now, not your perfection.
Bold Ideas Attract Bold People
If you want average people, share average visions. But if you want extraordinary partners, you need to paint a picture so bold it makes people uncomfortable. When we said “we’re going to tackle the housing crisis,” people thought we were crazy. That’s exactly when the right people showed up.
The bolder your vision, the better the people who show up to build it. So whatever you’re thinking, think 10x bigger.
Relentless Learning & Adaptation
I had zero nonprofit experience at 25. That was actually an advantage. Experience can make you defend the status quo. Inexperience forces you to learn from first principles.
Here’s my advice: Be ruthlessly attached to the problem you’re solving, but loosely attached to your solution. I’m not attached to being right; I’m attached to finding what works. We’ve pivoted from charity to 3D printing to market-based solutions. Each failure taught us something essential. Your willingness to admit “this isn’t working” is directly proportional to your eventual impact. Learn fast, adapt faster, and let the mission (not your ego) drive every decision.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
My favorite book is Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. There’s a quote that drives our work at New Story: “Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.”
When 1.8 billion people lack adequate housing, we can’t wait for someone else to solve it. We have to take ownership and act.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.newstoryhomes.org/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbhagler/
Image Credits
New Story
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
