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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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.

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Navigating Career Success in Real Estate Development with John Moffat

In 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-b9559b48
• Leave a review on the platform of choice if you've enjoyed this episode

00:00 Introduction and Early Career Struggles

00:29 Welcome and Guest Introduction

01:04 Misconceptions and Major Decisions

01:59 Career Challenges and Worst Days

02:43 Passion Projects and Daily Life

04:45 Early Career and Education

06:55 First Job and Learning the Ropes

12:04 Navigating the Credit Crunch

20:19 Emergence of Built to Rent

21:36 Joining Capital Centric

26:14 Leadership and Management Insights

33:57 Future Goals and Conclusion

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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 Overview

01:21 Quickfire Questions with James Raynor

02:51 James Raynor's Early Career at RBS

08:54 Transition to Grosvenor Property UK

11:05 Navigating Challenges and Learning from the GFC

15:33 Expanding Horizons in Asia

19:03 Navigating Diverse Markets and Cultures

20:25 Transition to Grosvenor UK

20:52 Facing Personal and Professional Risks

24:46 The Impact of COVID-19

33:20 Current Leadership and Strategy

36:30 Work Ethic and Team Dynamics

39:18 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

41:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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.

• 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/

00:00 – Introduction by Nick Carman, framing the importance of DE&I

01:00 – Jane Hollinshead introduces the panel and the episode's focus on early career advocacy

02:00 – Priya Shah on creating inclusive environments and addressing systemic issues

03:00 – Ceri Moyers shares strategies to retain mid-level women in real estate

05:00 – Sarah Hayford discusses outreach to underrepresented youth and early career support

06:00 – Addressing socioeconomic barriers to entry in real estate

09:00 – Understanding bias in hiring and how to challenge assumptions

12:00 – The role of line managers in shaping inclusive workplace cultures

16:00 – Emotional intelligence in management: understanding different work styles

18:00 – Supporting women in leadership and addressing performance biases

22:00 – Managing sensitive DE&I conversations in the workplace

26:00 – Priya Shah on handling microaggressions and exclusionary language

30:00 – Importance of allyship and addressing fear of "getting it wrong"

36:00 – Exploring the backlash against DE&I initiatives and rethinking approaches

40:00 – Final thoughts: creating a culture of learning, empathy, and active support for diversity

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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 Estate

00:45 Mark Woodrow's Early Career and the 2008 Recession

03:07 Grainger's Recovery and the Rise of Build to Rent

06:42 The Formation of Packaged Living

08:42 Ambitions and Future of Packaged Living

10:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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-62a19415

linkedin.com/in/faith-locken-710b2263

linkedin.com/in/gafar-fashola-6b6636112

linkedin.com/in/vanessa-murray-9b032763

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:53 Meet the Panelists

01:46 Gafar's Journey into Real Estate

03:05 Vanessa's Unique Path

05:16 Faith's Story and We Rise In

06:23 Challenges in Real Estate Diversity

12:06 Strategies for Inclusion

20:34 Navigating Career Challenges and Seeking Mentorship

22:00 The Importance of Sponsorship in Career Advancement

23:36 Diversity and Inclusion: From Grad Level to Senior Management

25:02 Real Estate Education and Industry Representation

27:08 The Role of Senior Managers in Promoting Diversity

27:53 Rethinking Qualifications and Career Paths in Real Estate

30:26 Personal Experiences and Microaggressions in the Workplace

33:51 Mentorship Differences and Confidence Building

37:32 The Importance of Allyship and Active Support

40:30 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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So welcome back to another Espresso episode of Accelerating Careers in Real Estate. I'm your host Nick Carman and today I get to revisit one of our most popular episodes of all time. Amelia Bright, Executive Director of the London Estate for Grosvenor.

At the time of recording in 2020, Amelia had built a career of 13 years with the same employer, working in London and San Francisco. So how would she manage to maintain that steep learning curve whilst navigating the obstacles impeding her growth? The conversation highlights her journey from biochemistry student to real estate professional, the critical lessons learned about influencing without direct control, and her leadership philosophy focused on empowering her team. Amelia also reflects on the importance of hard work, seizing opportunities, and the non-linear path to success.

Come and join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9054319/

Leave a review on the platform of choice if you've enjoyed this episode

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:40 Amelia Bright's Early Career and University Days

01:57 Transition to Real Estate and Career Growth

03:07 Challenges and Lessons in Development

04:57 Leadership and Management Insights

07:09 Secrets to Career Success

07:56 Reflections and Future Plans

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In this episode of 'Accelerating Careers in Real Estate,' I interview Emily Hamilton, the Chief Sustainability Officer for Savills's Investment Management. Emily shares her inspiring journey from an early passion for nature to leading sustainability initiatives in the real estate investment sector. She discusses her transformative experience volunteering in Ecuador, her early career steps, significant roles at Grosvenor, and her current position at Savills Investment Management, where she aims to make a lasting environmental and social impact. Emily emphasizes the importance of storytelling, leadership, and community engagement in driving sustainability initiatives.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:44 Emily's Early Passion for Nature

02:51 First Steps in Sustainability

04:35 Building a Career in Environmental Consultancy

05:41 University of East London Experience

07:36 Joining Grosvenor and Early Challenges

12:39 Transformational Leadership at Grosvenor

23:17 Transition to Savills Investment Management

32:34 Current Role and Future Aspirations

34:56 Conclusion and Reflections

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In this espresso edition, recorded in Autumn 2020, I get to revisit my conversation with Matt Townend, to discuss his impressive career spanning nearly two decades with major London developers. Townend shares candid reflections on early set-backs, professional growth, dealing with stress, and the importance of balance in life. Highlights include his impactful tenure at Battersea Power Station and his shift from technical expertise to people management. This episode dives deep into the personal and professional evolution of a real estate leader and the lessons learned along the way.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:38 Meet Matt Townend: Career Highlights

01:04 Early Career Struggles and Lessons Learned

02:25 The Importance of Balance and Mindfulness

03:52 Insights from Colleagues and Mentors

05:50 Battersea Power Station: A Landmark Project

10:20 Evolving Leadership Skills

13:39 Personal Reflections and Legacy

15:59 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

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