Operational Alpha: How to Build a High-Performance Real Estate Firm - Sarah Schwarzschild - COO @ Mavik

In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff speaks with Sarah Schwarzschild, COO of Mavik Capital, to explore what operational alpha looks like inside a high-performing real estate investment firm. With experience spanning investment banking, secondaries, and platform leadership, Sarah brings a unique lens to how strategy, culture, and execution intersect in private markets.

They dive into how Mavik has structured itself for speed, collaboration, and long-term performance—from flat organizational design to real-time data feedback loops. Sarah shares her approach to building systems that reduce friction, unlock better decision-making, and ensure every team member—from assistants to senior investors—has direct alignment through carried interest.

They also discuss:

- How Mavik balances flexibility with discipline in its investment process

- The firm’s unique capital strategy, including accordion-style fund sizing

- Why Sarah believes in weekly feedback, habit tracking, and prioritization as leadership tools

- Building an internal culture of experimentation, iteration, and psychological safety

- Why operational excellence is a source of alpha, not just back-office hygiene

- How technology, automation, and data scraping will define the next generation of investment managers

This episode is a masterclass in applying startup principles inside a real estate investment platform—ideal for any leader thinking about how to build with intention.

Links:

Mavik Capital - https://www.mavikcapital.com/

Sarah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-schwarzschild-5426483/

Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/

Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/

Book recommendations:

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie - https://a.co/d/2eD81SB

Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://a.co/d/9eU79Op

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler - https://a.co/d/iglqwPt

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:01) - Sarah’s background and career

(00:08:44) - What are you focused on from an investment perspective?

(00:10:51) - What is your span of control as COO?

(00:15:59) - How do you compare and contrast operationally Mavik vs. the industry standard?

(00:18:46) - Flexibility within a large organization

(00:20:35) - How do you effectively drive change?

(00:22:21) - Leadership philosophies

(00:29:52) - Achieving long-term outperformance

(00:35:18) - What are your priorities today?

(00:41:29) - What is the role of an operational leader in an investment committee?

(00:44:18) - Opportunities in the market

(00:47:02) - Sarah’s Jordan 1 shoe

(00:48:36) - Book suggestions