What do you do at work each day?
The days differ, but I am always looking for opportunities to add value and inform strategic decision-making on property portfolios for corporate and investor clients.
Our team mobilises our diverse array of property and networking skills to deliver bespoke solutions for clients who are as unique as their properties. We ensure the implementation of a decision is informed by strategic intent and alignment — evidence of the responsible execution of a board or management’s fiduciary duties.
When I am not pursuing business development activities, I am with the team, knee deep in business cases, financial models and research.
What do you think makes you good at what you do?
I gravitate towards logic and analysis, but I don’t let that limit my imagination. Creativity is important for my role, so it’s good to be curious and ask: “Why not?” before analysing possibilities.
I love being able to zoom in and out of a problem to contextualise the big picture, before diving into detailed operations and figures. I enjoy helping people and clients achieve their goals. I develop long-term relationships and always try to give extra value. I like to work hard because I make it fun.
What is your get-ready-for-work routine?
I wake up with the sun, but take time to get out of bed. I use that time to read, respond to overnight messages and reflect.
Once my feet touch the floor it’s time to feed my pets, convince myself to get some exercise (during which I will think about nothing) and then step into the shower, where most of my better ideas come to me.
With that in place, I am fired up for the day and may even be spotted singing in traffic.
What are your views on working from home vs being in the office?
It’s about balance rather than an all-or-nothing approach. The merits of either are about the suitability of the environment for doing the work required.
The great thing about the office is that it offers a standard and stable environment where you can interact with colleagues,, have backup power and internet connection, and access to good (I hope) coffee.
For me, the office complements my home office environment well — there I have full control over the light, sounds, smells and temperature I need to get into the zone for deep concentration.
We are all different though, and one of the positives from the pandemic was that more leaders were forced to manage by productivity rather than presence, and engage with colleagues as humans rather than resources.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be a doctor, lawyer and astronaut, all at the same time. Three careers because everything was possible in my mind and who wouldn’t want to explore, fight for justice and end human suffering?
I still want those things, but I also know there are others who do those things better. For example, most people prefer to have a doctor who isn’t squeamish around broken bones and blood.
What is your go-to career advice?
Mistakes are what rich experience is made of. No-one gets everything right every time, but let’s try to make new mistakes.
What do you wish you had learnt earlier in your career?
If you invest time to sleep, be still and breathe better, you’ll be happier. Also, not everything is worth the fight.
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