People Property Place

Gawain Smart, CEO of International Campus Group and a legal expert with a background in Canada and Wall Street, shares insights from transitioning to real estate leadership. He discusses the intricacies of scaling a private equity-backed business and emphasizes the importance of building strong teams. Gawain explores the evolving European student accommodation market, the role of AI in reshaping decision-making, and the shifting capital flows into Europe. His journey highlights balancing people management with profits and the importance of adaptability in leadership.

Dean Harrison, the mastermind behind Harleyford Capital, shares his inspiring journey from motocross fanatic to real estate entrepreneur. He discusses what shaped his early ambitions and the lessons learned from a decade at InfraRed Capital Partners. Dean candidly addresses the brutal challenges of launching his platform and the importance of discipline, emotional intelligence, and work ethic in his team. He also dives into strategic investments in new economy real estate and how he adapted his lifestyle for personal productivity to scale rapidly, successfully deploying over £250m in just 18 months.

Revisiting: How Developers Are Becoming City Builders – with Morwenna Hall, COO, Related Argent In this special recap episode, we revisit one of our most thought-provoking conversations — with Morwenna Hall, Chief Operating Officer at Related Argent. As we reflect on the highlights from this episode, we explore how Morwenna redefines the role of the modern developer — far beyond bricks, leases, and rent reviews. From rebuilding schools and delivering healthcare infrastructure to cultural placemaking and tenant matchmaking, her insights challenge outdated models of real estate and asset management. 💡 Key themes in this recap: • Why developers now have civic responsibilities • The rise of cross-disciplinary teams in real estate • How to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry • Why curiosity and flexibility matter more than qualifications • What makes someone indispensable in modern placemaking If you missed the full conversation, this recap will give you a powerful snapshot. And if you’ve heard it before, this is your chance to revisit the big ideas — and reflect on how much the industry has already shifted.   Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Feel free to share them in the comments, I’m always up for a chat! And if you’re enjoying what I’m putting out, don’t forget to hit subscribe and turn on the notification bell so you’ll never miss out on the next podcast.   🎧 Listen On: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oCDnwWSTP685l6sn8F0a6 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-property-place/id1652694140   The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. You can also connect with me on social media, I’d love to hear from you there too. Thanks again for hanging out with me!   🔊 LIKE ➡ SHARE ➡ SUBSCRIBE ►Rockbourne Website: www.rockbourne.com ►PPP Podcast LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/people-property-place-podcast/about/?viewAsMember=true ►Matthew Watts LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-watts-51575a57/ ►Business Enquiries: mwatts@rockbourne.com #RealEstate #Placemaking #UrbanDevelopment #Leadership #RelatedArgent #MorwennaHall #Proptech #PodcastRecap #CityBuilding #ModernDeveloper

Natan Lempert, Co-Founder and CEO of Built AI, shares his impressive journey from investment banking to revolutionizing real estate with AI. He discusses the inefficiencies in traditional underwriting and how Built AI transforms deal analysis for investors. Natan's insights on technology adoption and the future of AI in real estate highlight the potential for enhanced efficiency and streamlined decision-making. He also provides valuable advice for investors considering tech integration, envisioning a new era for investment management.

Keith Breslauer, Managing Director & Senior Partner at Patron Capital Partners, joins me on the People Property Place Podcast this week.   Please note that this conversation was originally released on the 18th July 2024, and we have decided to re-release it given the recent news that Mitsubishi Estate Co. has acquired a majority stake in European private equity property fund manager Patron Capital.   In this conversation, we trace Keith’s journey from a self-funded entrepreneur in New York to building one of Europe’s leading opportunistic real estate investment firms - Patron Capital Partners, with over €5.4bn raised across 17 countries.   Keith is honest, reflective, and deeply driven by purpose. He doesn’t shy away from the challenges and lessons learned from nearly three decades in private equity real estate.   If you’re interested in real estate fund management, distressed investing, fundraising, or leadership driven by long-term thinking and values, this episode is jammed packed full of wisdom.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode:   •       Early career lessons and building a software business to fund his education •       How a career in secured credit at Lehman Brothers led him into European real estate •       Why he left Lehman to start Patron and how he raised his first fund •       What made Patron’s hybrid local partner model so effective across Europe •       Alignment between LPs, Patron’s internal team, and local operating partners •       Why discipline on leverage preserved Patron’s position through GFC and COVID •       What he learned from raising and deploying seven funds •       We discuss the most recently €860m raise for Fund VII •       The opportunity set today - distress, ESG, supply-demand mispricing •       Fund structure, deal sizing, and where specifically Patron deploys it capital •       The evolution of his investor base and the shift away from US LPs •       How political and macro uncertainty is affecting decision-making •       Reflections on legacy, purpose, and why charity work has become so central to him   And finally… With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?   Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.   The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Giving Real Estate Investors a difficult choice of who to hire.   If you’re serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.   #realestate #privateequity #property #fundmanagement #podcast

In this episode, I chat with Kevin Aitchison, MBE and Managing Director – Head of Europe at Savills Investment Management, about his remarkable journey from building surveyor to being an accomplished CEO, having led firms such as ING Real Estate, Knight Frank Investment Management, and Savills Investment Management’s European platform. Kevin is unassuming, empathetic, honest, open, thoughtful, self-depreciating, humble and is not the stereo typical caricature of a CEO that immediately springs to mind. But boy oh boy does he speak with such authority, wisdom and perspective. If you're interested in leadership, real estate investment management, personal development, lessons learnt, or finding meaning beyond the bottom line, this episode is packed with gems.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ·    Early moves from building surveying into asset management and then leadership ·    Different skill sets needed to start something vs scale something ·    His take on leadership, the Peter Principle, and sticking to your values ·    The phone call he thought was a hoax that turned out to be an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby ·    Market views, structural shifts, and where he sees the opportunity ·    Therapy, mental health, and the regrets he lives with due to the family time he sacrificed ·    Fear of failure as a motivator, and how he’s learned to reframe it ·    Why he writes about leadership, musings, family and mental health on LinkedIn ·    Advice for people earlier on in their careers ·    And so much more – the above summary does this conversation a dis-service!   And finally... With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose?   Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne - Giving Real Estate Investors a difficult choice of who to hire. If you’re serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.

In this episode, I sat down with the absolute powerhouse that is Zena Couppey, CEO of Altum Group, to unpack her extraordinary journey from leaving school at 16 to leading Altum, a rapidly scaling global fund administration business more than 200 people across six international offices. If you’re interested in business building, private markets, fund administration, or scaling a high-performance team, this one’s worth a listen.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: * Leaving school at 16 to join Ernst & Young full time * How she led a management buyout, and rebrand of Altum, raising PE money, and growing the business from 35 to 200+ people across six offices * Using tech to optimise, and drive efficiencies across the business * Her approach to client acquisition, retention, and why service trumps scale * Why culture beats strategy – and how she leads by example * Key trends in capital flows – including the rise of Middle Eastern family offices and JV structures * The growing focus on operational real estate, life sciences, and healthcare assets * How she balances motherhood, leadership, and a global travel schedule Advice for women returning to work and what true equity in the workplace looks like * What makes a great fund administration partner – and why most providers still get it wrong * Zena also shares what she would tell her younger self, and why being underestimated was her biggest motivator.   And finally... With £500m to invest – which People, what Property, and which Place would she choose?   Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.   The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne - Giving Real Estate Investors a difficult choice of who to hire.   If you’re serious about adding game-changing talent in 2025 and are open to doing it differently, DM me on LinkedIn.

Jermaine Browne, co-founder of Re:shape Living Group and Ark Co-Living, has transformed co-living into a thriving venture. He shares how early experiences in urban sociology and personal challenges inspired his journey. Jermaine discusses founding Re:shape during Covid and the strategy behind their successful proof of concept, Ark Wembley. He emphasizes the importance of affordable housing and community-focused initiatives. With plans for significant expansion, Jermaine envisions a future where innovative co-living solutions address the housing crisis.

In this episode, I sit down with Sir David Michels (the first Sir on the pod!) – former CEO of Hilton, Deputy Chairman of Marks & Spencer, and Non-Executive Director at British Land and EasyJet – to explore his stellar corporate and non-executive career. If you’re interested in leadership, decision-making and the realities of running capital-intensive businesses, this conversation offers direct insight from someone who’s done it at the highest level.   Key Topics Covered In This Episode: ·   From school dropout, waiting tables to building one of the most impressive corporate CV’s ·   Brilliant basics - why asking questions, listening and understanding people has shaped his approach to leadership ·   International Growth - Taking UK hotels to the US market ·   Turning Around Stakis - Navigating a multi-bank restructure involing 27 parties ·   Hilton & Ladbrokes - Managing global brands, major acquisitions and the shift from owner to flag ·   Real Estate vs. Operations - Why hotel ownership carries more risk than many investors realise ·   Life as a Non-Exec - The role of the board, the CEO relationship, and where governance adds value ·   Michels & Taylor - Building a hotel advisory and management business ·   Career Perspective - On luck, pressure, regrets, and how success evolves over time   And finally... With £500m to invest - which People, what Property, and which Place would he choose? Sir David shares his answer, shaped by decades in hospitality and a long-term view on real estate value. Enjoying the show? Follow and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers.

Sue Clayton - Senior Independent Advisor & Non Exec How do you stay at the top of your game across four decades in commercial real estate? In this episode, I sit down with Sue Clayton, former Managing Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, board member, investor, adviser, and Co-Founder of Real Estate Balance - to break down a career built on trust, consistency, and integrity. We cover how Sue rose through the ranks in a male-dominated industry, her approach to building long-term client relationships, and how she transitioned into a successful portfolio career after leaving CBRE. Sue shares what it was like advising on billions of pounds of transactions, her board experience with companies like SEGRO, Blue Coast Capital and Helical, and why she’s passionate about driving greater inclusion across the industry. If you care about leadership, longevity, and building trust this episode is for you. Key Topics Covered In This Episode: * A 40-Year Career In Commercial Real Estate – From graduate at Richard Ellis to international CBRE board member. * Building Trust in Brokerage – How she built a reputation through discretion, detail, and doing the right thing. * Building CBRE Capital Markets – What it took to lead during mergers, acquisitions, and global expansion. * Leadership Lessons – How to manage people, politics, and priorities Why saying “no” to a deal can build more credibility than chasing fees. * Transitioning to Board Roles – The skills and mindset shift needed to go from operator to advisor. * What makes an effective Non-Exec in today’s market. * Supporting the Next Generation – The story behind Real Estate Balance and Pathways to Property. Oh, and one last thing… In every episode, I ask each guest: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place they would invest in if they had £500m at their disposal? Don’t miss Sue’s answer - especially if you’re interested in long-term value and social impact. Got any thoughts or questions about this podcast? Drop them in the comments, I’d love to hear from you. And if you’re enjoying the show, hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne – Recruiting Leadership & Future Leadership hires for Real Estate Funds, Owners, Investors & Developers. #realestate #property #nonexec #advisory