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Accelerating Careers in Real Estate

with Macdonald & Company


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  • 132. Authenticity, Decisiveness, and Embracing Challenges - Alison Crofton, Chief Property Officer at Homes England

    39:14||Season 1, Ep. 132
    This week, we sit down with Alison Crofton, Chief Property Officer for Homes England. Alison shares her insights into the importance of authenticity in leadership, misconceptions about government agencies, and the significant impact introverts can have in the industry.From her beginnings at Berkeley Group and other major residential developers to her current leadership at Homes England, Alison's journey highlights the value of decisiveness, mentorship, and embracing challenges.Alison reflects on her achievements, such as becoming one of the first female technical directors, and her experiences balancing career and personal life. She discusses the rewarding decision to join Homes England and the misconceptions about working in the public sector.

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  • 131. Relationships, Loyalty and Reputation - Henry Lumby, CCO, Auriens

    43:34||Season 1, Ep. 131
    After a short break, we're back with our first episode of Accelerating Careers in Real Estate for 2025. We sit down with Henry Lumby, Chief Commercial Officer of Auriens, to discuss his remarkable 20-year career in the UK later-living sector. Henry shares insights into the key role relationships play in securing and retaining investors, working with agents, and building loyalty in the construction industry. From his beginnings as a high street agent in Bournemouth, through impactful roles at Savills, Landmark, and Quantum, to his current leadership at Auriens, Henry's journey illustrates the importance of resilience, hard work, and strategic thinking.Henry shares his insights into the later living sector, reflecting on his achievements, setbacks, and legacy in real estate including his experiences during the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 130. How individual passion and values can fuel your career - John Moffat, MD, Capital & Centric

    36:53||Season 1, Ep. 130
    Navigating Career Success in Real Estate Development with John MoffatIn this episode of 'Accelerating Careers in Real Estate,' host Nick Carman interviews John Moffat, Managing Director of Capital & Centric. John shares his career journey from a novice in property development to leading significant regeneration projects in the UK. The episode covers his early influences, biggest career challenges, including crisis management and dealing with unplanned events, and his passion for social impact in urban regeneration. John also discusses the skills and mindset necessary for success in property development, and his future ambitions for scaling social impact across the UK.Come and join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319/Connect with John at linkedin.com/in/john-moffat-b9559b48Leave a review on the platform of choice if you've enjoyed this episode00:00 Introduction and Early Career Struggles00:29 Welcome and Guest Introduction01:04 Misconceptions and Major Decisions01:59 Career Challenges and Worst Days02:43 Passion Projects and Daily Life04:45 Early Career and Education06:55 First Job and Learning the Ropes12:04 Navigating the Credit Crunch20:19 Emergence of Built to Rent21:36 Joining Capital Centric26:14 Leadership and Management Insights33:57 Future Goals and Conclusion
  • 129. Playing to Win, James Raynor, CEO Grosvenor Property UK

    41:37||Season 1, Ep. 129
    So welcome back to another episode of Accelerating Careers in Real Estate. I'm your host Nick Carman and today I sit down with James Raynor, Chief Executive of Grosvenor Property UK, to dive into his extensive and dynamic career. From his unexpected start at RBS to building a successful business in Paris, and transitioning to Grosvenor in 2004, James shares the pivotal decisions and challenges that shaped his path. We discuss his experiences managing through the global financial crisis, navigating diverse European markets, and leading through the COVID-19 pandemic. James reflects on the importance of seizing opportunities, fostering team collaboration, and adapting to change. He provides valuable insights into leadership, strategic decision-making, and personal growth within the real estate industry. Join us for an inspiring conversation with James Raynor as he shares his journey and the lessons learned along the way.00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview01:21 Quickfire Questions with James Raynor02:51 James Raynor's Early Career at RBS08:54 Transition to Grosvenor Property UK11:05 Navigating Challenges and Learning from the GFC15:33 Expanding Horizons in Asia19:03 Navigating Diverse Markets and Cultures20:25 Transition to Grosvenor UK20:52 Facing Personal and Professional Risks24:46 The Impact of COVID-1933:20 Current Leadership and Strategy36:30 Work Ethic and Team Dynamics39:18 Embracing Discomfort for Growth41:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
  • 128. DE&I Allyship Confidence mini-series Ep2

    51:23||Season 1, Ep. 128
    In this second episode of the "DE&I Allyship" series on the Accelerating Careers in Real Estate podcast, the focus shifts from personal journeys to how we can all foster advocacy and allyship in real estate. Chair Jane Hollinshead leads a discussion on the essential role hiring and line managers play in creating a more inclusive workplace. Joining the conversation are industry experts Priya Shah, Ceri Moyers, and Sarah Hayford, who share insights on how inclusion efforts impact retention, recruitment, and creating supportive environments.This episode delves into practical strategies for tackling tough DE&I topics, reducing biases in leadership, and how organisations can embed DE&I into their core values, rather than treating it as a separate initiative. Real-life experiences are shared to demonstrate how conscious efforts in allyship can transform career trajectories and workplace cultures.Connect with the Panel:Jane Hollinshead: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-hollinshead-60283a16/Priya Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-aggarwal-shah-b1719469/ Ceri Moyers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceri-moyers-79619a15/Sarah Hayford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahhayford/Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Introduction by Nick Carman, framing the importance of DE&I01:00 – Jane Hollinshead introduces the panel and the episode's focus on early career advocacy02:00 – Priya Shah on creating inclusive environments and addressing systemic issues03:00 – Ceri Moyers shares strategies to retain mid-level women in real estate05:00 – Sarah Hayford discusses outreach to underrepresented youth and early career support06:00 – Addressing socioeconomic barriers to entry in real estate09:00 – Understanding bias in hiring and how to challenge assumptions12:00 – The role of line managers in shaping inclusive workplace cultures16:00 – Emotional intelligence in management: understanding different work styles18:00 – Supporting women in leadership and addressing performance biases22:00 – Managing sensitive DE&I conversations in the workplace26:00 – Priya Shah on handling microaggressions and exclusionary language30:00 – Importance of allyship and addressing fear of "getting it wrong"36:00 – Exploring the backlash against DE&I initiatives and rethinking approaches40:00 – Final thoughts: creating a culture of learning, empathy, and active support for diversity
  • 127. Spotting and Seizing Opportunities - Mark Woodrow, Packaged Living - ESPRESSO edition

    10:19||Season 1, Ep. 127
    In this episode of Accelerating Careers in Real Estate ESPRESSO, host Nick Carman revisits the career journey of Mark Woodrow recorded in the winter of 2020, then joint Managing Director of Packaged Living. The discussion reflects on Woodrow's experience during the 2008 financial crisis while working at Grainger, where he witnessed significant challenges but also embraced opportunities that shaped his career. Mark and co-founder Ed Ellerington navigated these tumultuous times, leading to the establishment of Packaged Living, a leading BTR development investment company. The episode highlights Woodrow's resilience, the evolution of the build-to-rent sector, and the strategic growth ambitions of Packaged Living, set against the backdrop of the 2020 pandemic.00:00 Introduction to Accelerating Careers in Real Estate00:45 Mark Woodrow's Early Career and the 2008 Recession03:07 Grainger's Recovery and the Rise of Build to Rent06:42 The Formation of Packaged Living08:42 Ambitions and Future of Packaged Living10:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
  • 126. DE&I Allyship confidence mini-series Ep1

    40:43||Season 1, Ep. 126
    So this evening we have a very important episode, I set up the pod to draw a straight line between accelerating in your career with constant learning, so today we have a critical lesson to share. How to be a confident ally is rarely tackled, despite universal support for a more inclusive sector, yet what we can ALL do to improve this is too often throttled by fear.In the first of the two-part ‘DE&I Allyship’ exclusive series of the Accelerating Careers in Real Estate podcast, guest, Sue Brown, Managing Director of Real Estate Balance, hosts the conversation where first-hand experiences, issues, and solutions to foster more inclusive workplaces are discussed. Episode one features Faith Locken, founder of We Rise In and former Development Manager at Countryside and JLL, conferring with Gafar Fashola, Chair of BPF Futures and Vanessa Murray, Founder of The Circle Partnership.Connect with our panel:linkedin.com/in/sue-brown-62a19415linkedin.com/in/faith-locken-710b2263linkedin.com/in/gafar-fashola-6b6636112linkedin.com/in/vanessa-murray-9b03276300:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:53 Meet the Panelists01:46 Gafar's Journey into Real Estate03:05 Vanessa's Unique Path05:16 Faith's Story and We Rise In06:23 Challenges in Real Estate Diversity12:06 Strategies for Inclusion20:34 Navigating Career Challenges and Seeking Mentorship22:00 The Importance of Sponsorship in Career Advancement23:36 Diversity and Inclusion: From Grad Level to Senior Management25:02 Real Estate Education and Industry Representation27:08 The Role of Senior Managers in Promoting Diversity27:53 Rethinking Qualifications and Career Paths in Real Estate30:26 Personal Experiences and Microaggressions in the Workplace33:51 Mentorship Differences and Confidence Building37:32 The Importance of Allyship and Active Support40:30 Final Thoughts and Reflections