The Failure Gap

A Conversation With Jeremy Sharpe, President, Sharpe Development Group


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Jeremy Sharpe grew up riding around the desert with his dad, thinking he was on grand childhood adventures while secretly getting groomed as a real estate developer. Now president of Sharpe Development Group and managing partner of Rancho Sahuarita, he carries forward a multigenerational commitment to “creating a better life for people” through the built environment. His path was not linear, with early dreams of being a vet and launching his own company before returning to the family business in Tucson, stepping fully into leadership after his father’s illness and passing. That experience, and the vulnerability it required, continues to shape how he leads his team, his partners, and his community.

Episode Takeaways

  • Values before vision: People may disagree with a decision, yet still trust it if they believe in the leader’s values and integrity. That trust becomes the real foundation of long-term alignment. 
  • Alignment includes time, not just ideas: Large-scale communities play out over decades, not quarters, so Jeremy works to get partners, employees, and residents aligned to both the vision and the timeline.
  • Know when to walk away: Deals and hires can drift from alignment over time. Letting go, even late in the process, can be an act of integrity rather than failure.
  • Leaders are humans, not certainty machines: Jeremy normalizes imposter syndrome, makes hard calls through a values lens, and is willing to say “I got that wrong,” whether with executives or six-year-olds who are very committed to their own positions.
  • Translate the speedboat and the wake: His development team moves fast on vision and innovation while community management and utilities keep life calm and reliable for residents, with key leaders playing translator between urgency and stability.

Jeremy leaves us with a clear challenge: look within, reflect honestly on how you are really showing up, and align your daily decisions with your why. Agreement sounds nice in the meeting, but alignment is what shows up in the neighborhood, on the balance sheet, and around your own kitchen table. Connect with him on LinkedIn here.

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Learn more about Julie and Karrikins Group:

  • Connect with Julie on LinkedIn
  • Follow Karrikins Group on LinkedIn 
  • Check out Julie's book, 'Make HOW Matter: Key Conversations for Leaders to Build Alignment and Accelerate Growth'
  • Learn more about how Karrikins Group helps enterprise teams drive better results
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The Failure GapBy Julie Williamson, Ph.D.