Welcome to the very first episode of the ICP Podcast! In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Sophie Kennedy-Rush, a highly accomplished Business Development Manager at Buxton Geelong Group. With over 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, Sophie is a dedicated professional who truly understands the ins and outs of property management.Whether you are a property management professional, a business development enthusiast, or simply looking for inspiration in your journey, this episode will undoubtedly provide valuable insights and guidance!

[01:01] From Property Management to Business Development: A Journey of Resilience, Adaptability, and Continuous Growth.

[06:57] Evolution of Management and Leadership: Navigating Different Roles in Property Management and Business Development.

[09:46] Elevating the Role of Property Managers: Embracing Responsibility and Building a Strong Team.

[11:38] Collaborative Excellence: Empowering Teamwork and Innovation in Property Management.

[16:13] Building a Culture of Support and Growth: Embracing Mistakes, Fostering Mentorship and Team Development.

[22:48] Achieving Work-Life Balance: Nurturing Relationships and Prioritizing Self-Care.

Resources:

Connect with Sophie:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sophie-kennedy-rush-90a4ab140/?originalSubdomain=au

Website: buxton.com.au/geelong-north/sophie-kennedy-rush/

This week’s episode of the Influential Conversations Podcast features Samantha Gatherum-Goss. She is the manager of HomeGround Real Estate, Australia’s first not-for-profit real estate agency. She joined us today to talk about facing challenges in property management, communication with clients, having fun within the workplace, building a sense of belonging, reducing employee turnover, and more.

[01.02] Samantha’s background – Starting the conversation, Samantha shares a brief bio about herself, including her journey in property management.

[06.22] Facing challenges – Samantha shares the challenges they have to face in property management and how her staff deals with those challenges.

[15.04] Communication – We talk about the need to use different communication methods when dealing with clients.

[19.19] Having fun – Samantha shares what they do to create a sense of fun in the workplace.

[23.26] Sense of belonging – We end the conversation by talking about how we need to make sense of belonging at the workplace and treat the employees with the respect they deserve.

Resources

Connect with Samantha

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/samantha-gatherum-goss/

This week on Influential Conversations with Kirk Stafford, we’re joined by Julie Collins, Partner / Dept Manager at Altitude Real Estate. Julie is also a property management trainer, consultant, and speaker. Throughout today’s episode, we dive into how Julie built her career, some of the challenges she faced along the way, and valuable strategies for building a career in real estate.

[01:15] Julie’s Journey – We start the conversation with a brief look at how Julie entered the real-estate arena.

[04:47] The Motive – Kirk asks Julie what drives her to keep working in the industry for years despite the tough periods that the industry undergoes.

[07:12] Challenges – Julie talks about some of the challenging situations she had to face during her career and what she did to overcome the challenges.

[14:13] Invest in Yourself – Julie weighs in on the value of investing in yourself and how the networks and tribes you build help you grow your career.

[21:08] Boundaries – Why it’s important to set boundaries and adhere to them.

Resources:

Connect with Julie

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julie-collins-892937126

Website: www.altituderealestate.com.au

This week on Influential Conversations with Kirk Stafford, we’re joined by Manos Findikakis & Maria Findikakis, the co-founders of Agents'Agency, a real estate organization that focuses on transforming agents and agencies into market-leading boutique brands and businesses. Throughout the episode, we dive into the growth story of Agents'Agency, how to position yourself in the market, team management, agent-assisted services, building relationships, and more.

Resources:

Connect with Manos & Maria

Website: agentsagency.au

LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/in/manosfindikakis

www.linkedin.com/in/mariafindikakis

On today's episode of the Influential Conversations podcast, we are joined by Ashleigh Goodchild, Business owner of SOCO Realty and the creator of PM Collective Perth. With over 20 years of experience in the industry and having covered every role from reception to property management, Ashleigh is a seasoned professional who has witnessed the ups and downs of the property management industry firsthand.

In this episode, we dive into Ashleigh's insights on the importance of open communication in promoting a positive team culture, her experience navigating tough times in business, and her sources of inspiration and resilience when facing challenges.

Tune in to gain valuable insights from one of the industry's most influential voices!

[02:07] Background - Ashleigh's career path, along with how she entered the property management field.

[09:56] COVID-19 Epidemic - How has the pandemic affected Ashleigh and her team?

[13:09] Cost-Cutting Plan – Ashleigh outlines three approaches they followed in handling financial concerns.

[16:13] Fostering Positive Team Culture - We examine how open and honest communication can provide the foundation for fostering a strong team culture. In addition, Ashleigh relates her personal experience with how effective communication can unite individuals towards a common goal.

[20:32] Stress Support System - Ashleigh proposes a team activity that may be performed in the workplace to recognize when an employee is under stress and provide appropriate support or space.

[25:26] Finding Inspiration Amid Challenges - Ashleigh's motivations and influences when confronting obstacles.

Resources:

Connect with Ashleigh:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/perthpropertymanager/

Website: www.socorealty.com.au/team/