In this episode of The Real Estate Circle, we sit down with Lisa Pennell, CEO of Barry Plant, to talk about her decades-long journey in the industry, including a moment where she nearly walked away altogether.

After 20 years at Ray White and now 2.5 years in senior leadership at Barry Plant, Lisa shares the frustrations that almost pushed her out of real estate, and the values that pulled her back in.

We also explore what she believes needs to change in the industry, from adopting strengths of other states, to having true balance and diversity across the industry.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

Lisa's profile: https://www.barryplant.com.au/our-team/lisa-pennell/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode of the The Real Estate Circle, Matthew John - Director of Buxton Inner-West, joins us to talk about his journey from DJ to Director.

Matthew opens up about starting in the industry later than most, how he made up for lost time, and the mindset that helped him succeed. He also shares why he was determined not to take shortcuts on his way to becoming Director, and why he believes starting a career in real estate should be compared to a trade apprenticeship.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

Matthew's Profile: https://buxton.com.au/inner-west/matthew-john/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode of the The Real Estate Circle, Elizabeth Kelly - Director of Jellis Craig Brunswick, joins us to talk about her rise from Saturday reception shifts to Director at Jellis Craig. 

Elizabeth shares how being ultra-organised, and building authentic rapport with the community helps her manage 30+ vendors at a time. Elizabeth also reflects on living and selling in the same neighbourhood, what drives her competitive edge, and how being herself is her biggest strength. 

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

Elizabeth's Profile: https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/agents/elizabeth-kelly

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

Fresh from AREC 2025, Emily and Matt sit down to unpack the highlights from this year’s conference. They share their favourite speakers, key takeaways, standout moments, and the reasons why they attend AREC every year.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode of the The Real Estate Circle, we’re joined by Tom Georgiou from Beckett, who brings an honest take on buyer advocacy. From lending at NAB to working across London and Dubai, Tom’s journey led him back to Melbourne, where he’s built a lean, high-performing business focused purely on results. 

Tom talks about the power of word-of-mouth, why they don't have any digital marketing, and how staying hands-on with a large amount of property deals a year keeps him sharp. 

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

Tom's Profile: https://www.beckettproperty.com.au/about/thomas-georgiou/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode of The Real Estate Circle, we’re joined by Andrew McCann, CEO of Jellis Craig. From starting out in residential real estate at 19 to leading one of Australia’s fastest-growing real estate groups, Andrew shares insights from his journey through sales, leadership, and business growth.

We chat about what makes a great leader in today’s industry, how to transition from selling to managing, and why empathy and care matter more than commission. Andrew also shares his thoughts on the most underrated skill in real estate, the value of boardroom auctions, and what he looks for when hiring a strong team.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode of The Real Estate Circle, we’re joined by Cate Bakos - a seasoned Buyer’s Advocate who’s passionate about representing the buyer, and the buyer only. Cate shares her unique journey from working in chemistry, to starting her career in real estate as a sales agent, and how that experience shaped her commitment to putting buyers first. Tune in for an insightful chat about industry lessons, client advocacy, and why having someone in your corner makes all the difference.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

EPISODE REFERENCES:

https://www.catebakos.com.au/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode, Matt and Emily sit down with Simon Pintado, Director at Buxton Bentleigh, to explore the highs, lows, and lessons from his journey in real estate.

Simon opens up about resilience - from being fired on the last day of his probation to landing a life-changing opportunity by chance. He shares how discipline shapes success, why young agents can struggle with empathy, and the importance of giving the right advice for the client - not for yourself.

They also dive into the realities of today’s market, the impact of agents cutting fees to win business, and why reputation takes years to build but only moments to destroy. Plus, Simon talks about his health and fasting journey, the mindset shift after becoming a father, and why he values working with buyer’s advocates.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

EPISODE REFERENCES:

https://buxton.com.au/bentleigh/simon-pintado/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode, Matt and Emily sit down with Sam Rigopoulos, Director of Jellis Craig Northcote, to dive into the realities of leadership, negotiation, and the hard work that drives success in real estate.

Sam shares his journey - from struggling to land his first job in the industry to leading a top-performing team. He opens up about his leadership style, being available to coach his team 24/7, and why he believes some agents shy away from the tough work today.

It’s an insightful conversation about what it really takes to lead, negotiate, and thrive in real estate. 

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

EPISODE REFERENCES:

https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/agents/sam-rigopoulos

Book: Never Split the Difference - Chris Voss

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson

In this episode, Matt and Emily reflect on key takeaways from their last three guests, unpacking the insights that stood out the most. They dive into the importance of strong systems and processes behind the scenes, the benefits (and challenges) of living where you work, and why getting recruitment right is crucial for long-term success.

It's a practical, behind-the-scenes chat about what it really takes to build a sustainable and thriving business in real estate.

This episode was powered by Delta by Design: https://www.deltabydesign.com.au/

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Podcast edited by Tom Stephenson