Isaac Abadi, NewCity Tijuana: How We Build, Live and Heal

What happens to a builder when he realizes his father couldn't take a single building with him? In this episode of Border Masters, hosts Gustavo de la Fuente and Monique Casellas sit down with Isaac Abadi, CEO of Grupo Abadi, whose family brought the first high rises to the Tijuana side of the border and never stopped building. Isaac arrived from Panama by way of Mexico City, got stuck in the 2008 crisis with a half finished tower, and came out of it with a company that now spans real estate, hospitality, finance and wellness. He talks about what changed after both of his parents died, why every project since has to be worth doing beyond the money, and what he's building now: NewCity Medical Plaza and its medical tourism ecosystem, an ibogaine clinic in Tijuana treating Israeli veterans for PTSD, and Ayeka, a retreat center in Valle de Guadalupe named for a question rather than a place. This episode is about what gets built, what gets left behind, and the question he asked himself at his father's grave: are we here to create wealth or wellness? Some Border Masters episodes are recorded in English and others in Spanish. Listen to this episode and more at https://olasmedia.com, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment, and share. For guest suggestions or inquiries, email [info@bordermasterspodcast.com](mailto:info@bordermasterspodcast.com). Chapters: 00:00:00 – Introduction to Isaac Abadi 00:02:26 – From Panama to Mexico City to San Diego 00:04:57 – NewCity Residential and surviving the 2008 crisis 00:07:26 – Why Tijuana, with the Californian economy next door 00:11:17 – Building NewCity Medical Plaza, a one stop shop for medical tourism 00:15:41 – Losing both parents and rebuilding the company around purpose 00:20:40 – Ibogaine research in a hospital setting 00:24:21 – Ayeka, a retreat center in Valle de Guadalupe 00:29:58 – Orjaim and treating Israeli veterans for PTSD 00:36:00 – What the border teaches a business person 00:42:33 – What it means to be a Border Master See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.