Accelerating Careers in Real Estate

Professor Sadie Morgan OBE, co-founder of dRMM, shares her journey in architecture, discussing unexpected beginnings, career choices, successful projects, balancing motherhood, overcoming setbacks, and winning awards. She reflects on personal stories, loss, and illness, with a touch of humor and humility.

This evening I am once more on my globe-trotting travels, looking to test our theory of accelerating careers in new markets. Today I am talking to Uwe Hellendahl, based in Dusseldorf and he is one of the co-founders of COLCAP independent investment boutique and a pioneer in sustainable real estate investments. COLCAP took over the real estate activities of the Duxton Group in Germany in 2019. Uwe shares his career with us filled with unique personalities, opportunities, and pitfalls made all the more enjoyable by being a relative newcomer to real estate with his fresh perspective. Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319Contact details Ncarman@macdonaldandcompany.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I am joined by Katherine Russell, former Head of Property for John Lewis Partnership and now Head of Build to Rent the retailer's gargantuan efforts to build 10,000 homes across their portfolio. Katherine was described as someone who put the people before the properties and we dug into this mentality and her career from the lows of redundancy to securing her first role on the client side to moving through the traditional ranks of management and having the ambition and confidence to take her employer into unchartered territory. Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319Contact details Ncarman@macdonaldandcompany.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I am sat with John Kenny, Executive Vice President of Operations for RealStar. John has built a career in operational assets, such as flex office space, student accommodation, or most recently, rent. Realstar’s UK residential portfolio is £1.5bn and over 3,500 apartments across 16 properties of which 11 are operated under its UNCLE brand. It is part of the Real Star Group, a Canadian investment and operator with total assets of $9bn.John has never stood still and always sought out new challenges to stretch himself and you can see this in the variety of his experience and asset class. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This evening I am sat with Richard Bourne, Managing Director of Martin’s Property a mixed use £350m private PropCo focused in London and the SE. Richard has established a career in development whether for private family offices or listed plc development companies and shares the highs and the "booms" of his career so far. To read more of Richard's charity Abling, please go to ablinguk.comLinkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319Contact details Ncarman@macdonaldandcompany.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This evening I am sat with Cedric Bucher, CEO of Hearthstone Investments a real estate investment manager 100% focused on UK suburban private rented housing or as the US call it Single Family. Cedric is not a real estate native, he was born in Switzerland began his career in Switzerland with Mckinsey and worked within in multi-asset investment and finance for Barclays Wealth and Architas to name just a few. So I am curious how he settled on this last venture leading a business investment business in an asset class he was less than familiar with. Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319Contact details Ncarman@macdonaldandcompany.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This evening I am sitting with Tom Pocock, Central London MD for Berkeley Group St Edward, Tom has spent 17 out of his 18-year career inside the Berkeley Group beginning as a land graduate to a series of MD designate titles including for West London at just 30 followed by MD of its strategic land business in Central and West London and now MD of Berkeley’s St Edward Central London. I’m always fascinated by those who can create opportunities for themselves in a single business and I’m very much looking forward to hearing how Tom has done this so expertly. Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319Contact details Ncarman@macdonaldandcompany.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I get to sit down with Helen Martin, a seasoned leader in construction and development, who is now MD of the central region of Wates Construction. A former engineer, Helen has built a career on the fundamentals of honesty, direct communication and ultimately not allowing external forces to dictate her path. In the episode, Helen describes her path from engineer to contractor, turned developer and leader of Skanska's development company to returning to contracting in 2021. Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319Contact details Ncarman@macdonaldandcompany.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Davies, CEO of Uncommon, shares his journey as a self-confessed non-conformist in real estate, overseeing a massive portfolio worth £350m. He discusses his unique transition from sportswear to property, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and personal growth in leadership. Chris highlights how personal passions like Brazilian jiu-jitsu fuel his purpose and resilience in business. He also addresses navigating career transitions and the vital role of seeking advice during challenging times, offering invaluable insights for aspiring professionals.

Ian Morrison, Co-Founder of Beyond and an entrepreneurial developer, shares insights from his extensive career in mixed-use projects. He reflects on his journey from quantity surveying to project management, emphasizing teamwork and continuous learning. Ian discusses his pivotal move to entrepreneurship, sparked by a rugby match conversation, where he seeks to disrupt the housebuilding market with a focus on community design. He also highlights the importance of nurturing future talent in the real estate sector, addressing the challenges young professionals face.