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.