B
oston — where old streets meet new science, and glass towers rise beside historic brownstones — has been shaped by the quiet force of Stephen N. Faber over four decades. As Executive Vice President at Related Beal, Faber stands at the center of one of the most dynamic real estate firms in Boston.

    Faber's leadership philosophy is rooted in trust, family, and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. His father, a WWII veteran and Lockheed engineer, passed down advice that has guided him: "Remember to behave like a gentleman, especially in the face of adversity."

    Fresh out of Boston University in the early 1980s, Faber chose substance over flash, taking a job at General Investment and Development (GID) instead of joining a flashy brokerage firm. He cut his teeth managing assets across upstate New York, where a simple gesture from a hiring manager who held a job open during a family pregnancy became an early lesson in leadership.

    Faber's work began reshaping Boston itself after joining Beal Companies in 1996. Following the merger with The Related Companies, Related Beal was born — and with it, a new platform for innovation-focused real estate. Faber emerged as a trusted leader at the forefront of Boston's biotech boom, years before the market caught up.

    At Innovation Square in the Seaport, Faber took a bold risk by personally paying the $155,000 permitting fee to keep the project alive. That bet paid off: the building leased up before completion, kickstarting a biotech migration to the South Boston waterfront.

    Faber's vision also extends to environmental leadership. Under his guidance, Innovation Square Phase III became Boston's first LEED Platinum and LEED Zero-Net-Carbon life sciences building, setting a new benchmark for sustainable growth.

    As Related Beal continues to double down on Boston, investing in emerging neighborhoods and the innovation economy that drives the region forward, Faber remains deeply grounded. He recalls his earliest mentor, Professor Keith Munsell at BU, and credits the Beal brothers for teaching him the importance of trust, community, and quiet leadership.

    "I never had to ask to take on more," Faber says. "I just did the work. Proved the hypothesis. Brought the deal." His leadership is inseparable from Related Beal's identity, shaping the firm's integrated platform that blends local expertise with national reach.

    Faber will be honored with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Boston Real Estate Times's annual Excellence Awards gala on September 11, 2025.