Advertise on podcast: People Who Perform - The Real Estate Careers Podcast

In this episode of The Real Estate Careers Podcast, host Richard Costello welcomes Lachlan MacLean, Chief Operating Officer at Compass Communities. With more than 30 years of experience across Canada and Australia, Lachlan has built a career in alternative real estate asset classes, from parking operations and marinas to RV resorts and land lease communities. While these businesses may appear quite different, they share a common focus on occupancy, customer experience and maximizing the performance of real estate assets. In this conversation, Lachlan reflects on the career decisions and experiences that shaped his journey, the lessons learned from leading complex operating businesses, and the growing importance of land lease communities in Canada's real estate landscape. Key topics include: Building a career across alternative real estate sectors and recognizing the common threads between seemingly different businesses.How being open to opportunities and taking chances shaped Lachlan's career, from Australia to Canada.The experiences and leadership lessons gained from operating parking facilities, marinas, RV resorts and residential communities.Understanding the land lease community model.What's driving growing interest in land lease communities among investors and how the sector is evolving.His decision to join Compass Communities and what excites him about the future of the business and the broader land lease sector.Lachlan also shares his advice for emerging real estate professionals, including why it's worth keeping an open mind, embracing unexpected opportunities and recognizing that a successful career doesn't always follow a straight line.

In this episode, host James Ashley welcomes Corina Sajewski, Vice President of Development at Fengate Asset Management. With more than 13 years of experience spanning architecture, construction, and real estate development, Corina leads purpose-built rental and condominium developments across Fengate's portfolio. Having built her career at firms including Diamond Schmidt Architects, Minto, and Freed before joining Fengate, she shares what it actually takes to get a project built in today's market — and what she calls "the new development playbook" for developers navigating the next decade. Key topics include: Why getting a project off the ground today looks so different than it did five or ten years ago, and which parts of that shift are cyclical versus structural.What actually determines project viability, and where a good developer can still move the needle when the numbers don't work at first.The rise of purpose-built rental as Canada's largest category of housing starts, and why it's becoming a permanent part of the housing mix rather than a temporary response to a soft condo market.The launch of Fengate Communities and what building for decades of ownership demands differently from a developer than building to sell.The role of government policy, from Toronto's development charge reductions to CMHC financing programs, in making rental projects viable.How institutional capital — including Fengate's four-decade partnership with the LIUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada — provides the patient, disciplined capital housing delivery increasingly requires.Corina's own path from licensed architect to developer, and how that background shapes the way she evaluates real estate today.What "the new development playbook" means for developers who want to succeed over the next ten years, and why necessity may be the industry's best innovator.Tune in for a conversation on development viability, purpose-built rental, institutional capital, and what it will take to build not just more housing in Canada, but better housing.

In this episode, host Richard Costello welcomes Wingar Tsang, Director of Portfolio Operations & Asset Management at Allied Properties REIT. With more than 15 years of commercial real estate experience, Wingar has built her career across asset management, portfolio operations, financial analysis, and public land strategy. Having worked with organizations including Allied Properties REIT, Lululemon, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and Anbang Insurance, she shares the lessons that have shaped her approach to leadership, mentorship, and creating long-term value. Key topics include: Wingar's career journey across the public and private sectors and the experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy.Why leadership is earned through consistent action long before receiving the title.The transition from individual contributor to Director and the mindset required to lead high-performing teams.The importance of resilience, emotional intelligence, and adaptability in leadership.Mentorship lessons that influenced Wingar throughout her career and the advice she shares with emerging leaders.How Allied Properties REIT is positioning its portfolio for long-term growth and the future of commercial real estate.The evolving role of office buildings and creating workplaces where people genuinely want to spend time.Building stronger communities through commercial real estate and Wingar's work with the Gastown Business Improvement Association.The opportunities and challenges shaping Vancouver's commercial real estate market.The value of curiosity, continuous learning, and gaining experience across different asset classes.Personal insights on travel, sports, podcasts, and maintaining balance outside of work.Tune in for a conversation on leadership, mentorship, commercial real estate, community building, and the mindset behind creating long-term success in both business and life.

In this episode, James Ashley reconnects with Dave Casimiro, Executive Vice President at Vital Infrastructure Property Trust, six years after their first conversation. Dave has spent more than 20 years building a career in healthcare real estate within one organization—progressing from Leasing Manager to EVP. But this conversation isn't just about career progression. It's about what happens when leadership challenges collide with personal ones, and how a six-month absence from work can fundamentally change how you see your role, your team, and what actually matters. What We Discuss: The evolution from operational leadership to strategic, partnership-focused leadershipWhy learning to trust your team and let go is essential—and often the hardest part of leadershipHow a significant health challenge shifted Dave's perspective on patience, family, and prioritiesHis experience navigating the Canadian healthcare system as both a real estate professional and a patientThe transformation from Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT to Vital Infrastructure Property TrustWhy healthcare real estate is a specialized, relationship-driven asset class with real career longevityThe growing role of outpatient care and how healthcare delivery is evolvingWhy infrastructure will need to keep pace with an aging population and increasing demand for careThe role Vital is playing as a capital and real estate partner across the healthcare ecosystemWhy Listen: This is a candid conversation about resilience, leadership, and the human side of real estate. If you've ever questioned what matters, or wondered how to lead through uncertainty, Dave's story is worth hearing.

Sarah has spent her entire career within one organization, progressing from coordinator to executive leadership. Today, she sits at the center of some of the most important conversations in business — leadership development, succession planning, culture transformation, and building organizations that perform over the long term.  But this conversation goes beyond career progression. Sarah brings a thoughtful and highly relevant perspective on a challenge many professionals feel but rarely articulate — the tension between being constantly busy and actually doing meaningful, high-value work. Key topics include: The concept of “deep work” and why the ability to focus without distraction is becoming both rarer and more valuableThe growing gap between busyness and true productivity in modern workplacesHow digital tools, constant communication, and “always-on” culture are fragmenting attentionThe connection between distraction, burnout, and long-term performanceWhy leaders must take responsibility for creating environments that protect focus and meaningful workPractical ways organizations can balance collaboration with uninterrupted thinking timeThe role of boundaries, both personal and organizational, in improving performance and well-beingHow leadership behaviours shape whether employees feel “safe” to focus deeplyWhy developing the ability to concentrate is becoming a critical skill for long-term career successThe broader implications of longer careers and the need for sustainable ways of workingThis is a conversation about focus, leadership, and the realities of the modern workplace — and why the ability to think deeply may be one of the most valuable skills of the next decade.

In this episode, James Ashley welcomes Dean Holmes, Senior Vice President of Residential Operations at QuadReal Property Group. Dean is one of North America's most experienced residential operations leaders, with more than 25 years of experience building and scaling multifamily platforms across Canada and the United States. At QuadReal, he's been instrumental in designing and launching a vertically integrated residential management platform, and today oversees operations across multifamily, manufactured housing, and seasonal resort portfolios. Key topics include: Building and sustaining culture at scale across large, distributed teamsHow to diagnose performance challenges across people, processes, systems, and leadershipWhat separates high-performing teams from average ones in today's operating environmentLessons learned leading organizational change through periods of growth and transformationWhere PropTech has delivered real value—and where the industry has overestimated its impactHow AI is expected to shape residential operations over the next five yearsDean's career journey and the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership styleWhat it takes to build and scale an operating platform from the ground upHow the multifamily industry has evolved over the past 25+ years—and where it's heading nextAdvice for the next generation of leaders looking to build careers in real estate operationsWhat excites Dean most about the future of housing, technology, and leadership

In this episode, host Richard Costello welcomes Michael Brimer, Vice President of Construction at Townline. Michael leads Townline’s construction division, overseeing commercial and residential projects throughout Western Canada. With more than 25 years of experience across North America, his background includes healthcare, education, community spaces, and sports facilities. Key topics include: A week in the life of leading Townline’s construction division and managing multiple active projects.What construction leadership looks like in today’s environment.Growing up in Wisconsin and the early influences that shaped Michael’s mindset and leadership style.How Michael found his path into the construction industry.The role sport and competitive athletics played in shaping discipline, teamwork, and resilience.The biggest challenges currently facing the construction industry.Where opportunity exists across delivery models, planning, talent, and technology.What strong leadership looks like in today’s market environment.Leadership principles and why courage has become an important part of Michael’s approach.Lessons learned throughout a 25+ year career in construction and development.Projects that had the greatest impact on Michael professionally.Trends that could shape the future of construction over the next decade.Balancing training, competition, and leadership responsibilities.What excites Michael most about the next chapter of his career.Tune in for a conversation on leadership, construction, sport, teamwork, and the evolving realities of delivering major projects across Western Canada.

In this episode, host Richard Costello is joined by Rudy Uhl, Research Analyst at CBRE, and Maria Weaver, Director of Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion at Canadian Mental Health Association - British Columbia.  Rudy brings an economics background from the University of Bonn and plays a key role in supporting CBRE’s brokerage teams through research and market insight. Alongside his work in commercial real estate, Rudy recently completed a cross-Canada cycling journey — paired with an ultramarathon in every province — to raise awareness and funds for mental health, generating over $60,000 for CMHA-BC Maria joins the conversation to provide a broader lens on mental health and suicide prevention, drawing on her work with CMHA-BC. Together, the discussion moves beyond the journey itself to explore the realities many individuals are facing today, and how we can create more open, supportive environments — both personally and professionally. Key topics include: The role of research in commercial real estate – Rudy shares his day-to-day at CBRE, how research supports decision-making, and where teams are finding clarity in an evolving market heading into 2026. The cross-Canada challenge – The story behind Rudy’s ride, what it took to prepare, and the experience of cycling across the country while completing an ultramarathon in every province. Mental health and motivation – Why Rudy chose to support mental health, what he learned along the way, and the impact of raising funds for CMHA-BC. Insights from the front lines of mental health support – Maria shares her perspective on the current landscape, including common challenges individuals are facing, and the importance of breaking down stigma through open conversation. Workplace awareness and responsibility – A practical discussion on what organizations — including those in commercial real estate — can do to better support mental health in meaningful, tangible ways. Perspective and resilience – Reflections on how experiences like Rudy’s can shift mindset, and how individuals can better navigate periods of pressure, uncertainty, or transition. Resources: National Crisis Line number – 988 (https://988.ca/) Available 24/7 in both French and English. https://bouncebackbc.ca/ BounceBack - a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 13+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.https://bc.211.ca/ a BC-based resource directory that lets people find resources (mental health or otherwise) that best meet their unique needs. You can access BC 211 through their website, or by calling 211 (no area code).https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/ Here to Help – a directory of mental health and substance use resources and information

In this episode, host Nicola Denning-Millar is joined by Nhung Nguyen, CEO of Horizon Legacy — a leader at the forefront of innovation in construction and housing delivery in Canada. With over 17 years of experience across infrastructure, renewable energy, and development, Nhung is now driving Horizon Legacy’s shift toward robotics-enabled housing — using automation and advanced technology to tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including labour shortages, productivity, and affordability. This includes one of Canada’s first residential developments built using on-site robotics in Gananoque, Ontario. Key topics include: Innovation in construction – How robotics is being applied on real job sites, and what it takes to challenge a traditionally conservative industry. Leadership and building teams – Nhung’s experience as CEO, hiring for passion, and bringing people along when introducing new ideas. Overcoming barriers – The realities of developing new technology and building belief among partners, lenders, and stakeholders. Housing and affordability – How innovation can help address Canada’s housing crisis and what’s needed to make cost-efficient housing scalable. Community and partnerships – Lessons from working with the Six Nations community and the importance of trust and collaboration. The future of building – What construction could look like in the next 25 years and the skills needed to get there. A thoughtful conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of housing in Canada.

Eric has spent over a decade at First Capital, building his career across leasing, portfolio management, and now national operations. In his current role, Head of National Operations, he oversees property management and operational delivery across one of Canada’s largest retail real estate platforms, 178 properties, more than 21 million square feet, and a team of over 130 people across 17 offices nationwide. With deep experience across multiple facets of the business, Eric brings a practical, inside-out perspective on what it takes to operate at scale. In this conversation, we explore what it really means to lead a large, complex real estate platform and how to build the systems, culture, and teams required to deliver consistent performance across the country. Key topics include: Leading at scale – How leadership changes when you're responsible for a national platform, and the signals that indicate operations are truly working. Building culture across regions – Strategies for maintaining alignment and consistency across teams spread coast to coast, and how values translate into day-to-day execution. Systems vs. people – The balance between processes, reporting frameworks, and the human element and where systems can both enable and hinder performance. Operational excellence in retail real estate – How the role of property management is evolving and what defines excellence in an increasingly complex, mixed-use environment. Cross-functional alignment – Lessons on bringing together teams across leasing, development, marketing, and more to move in the same direction. Leading change – What it takes to successfully implement operational, technological, and cultural change at scale and common pitfalls to avoid. Eric’s career journey – The pivotal moments that shaped his path from leasing to national leadership, and the biggest shifts that come with senior responsibility. Developing leaders – How to build strong teams, identify emerging talent, and develop the next generation of leaders. The evolution of retail real estate – How the industry has transformed over the past decade and the trends shaping its future. Advice for future leaders – What early-career professionals should focus on, and how to build a foundation for long-term success. Tune in to hear Eric’s perspective on leading at scale, building high-performing teams, and what it takes to deliver operational excellence in one of Canada’s most dynamic real estate sectors.

In this episode, Nicola, James, and Richard come together for a HighView roundtable to break down insights from the newly released 2026 Real Estate Compensation Guide. Built on survey data from across the Canadian real estate industry and informed by what HighView is seeing every day with clients and candidates, the conversation explores how compensation, hiring, and career movement are evolving in a more disciplined market. James shares perspectives from Toronto, while Rich brings a Western lens from Vancouver, grounding the discussion in real-time market experience. They cover what 2026 is shaping up to look like for both employers and professionals — including hiring outlook, where talent demand remains strongest, salary and bonus expectations, and how career timelines are shifting.  Whether you’re building a team or thinking about your next move, this episode offers practical insight into navigating the year ahead.

In this episode of The Real Estate Careers Podcast, host Richard Costello welcomes Tiffany Duzita, Vice President of Acquisitions and Development at RCG Group. Tiffany has spent her career working across a wide range of environments, giving her a broad perspective on how projects are shaped, financed, and delivered. From large public companies to private developers, non-profit housing organizations, and First Nation-led partnerships, she has gained exposure to various models, structures, and approaches along the way. Earlier this year, she joined RCG Group, where she now leads acquisitions and development across Western Canada and the U.S. Key topics include: Early inspiration and career foundations – What first drew Tiffany to real estate, the early experiences that shaped her understanding of successful development, and the lessons she shares with aspiring Development Managers entering the field. Building the Community Land Trust – An inside look at what makes the Community Land Trust model distinct, what it was like helping build the organization from the ground up, the accomplishments she’s most proud of, and the leadership skills required to succeed in mission-driven development. Balancing purpose and viability – How Tiffany approached the challenge of delivering financially sound projects while staying true to the organization’s social mandate — and what that taught her about decision-making, partnerships, and long-term impact. The transition to RCG Group – Why, after nearly 10 years in non-profit housing, Tiffany chose to return to the private sector, what appealed to her about RCG’s culture and Harold Goodwyn’s leadership, and how the company is positioning itself for growth across North America. Acquisitions and development under one roof – Tiffany shares how her dual role allows her to connect strategy with execution, why combining these disciplines strengthens project outcomes, and how her broad background shapes her perspective day-to-day. Building community — on and off the court – From non-profit housing to mixed-use development to her love of pickleball, Tiffany reflects on how community shows up in every part of her life and career — and why it remains the thread that ties her work together.

In this episode, host Richard Costello welcomes Jeff Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer at Troika Developments. Jeff has built a diverse career in real estate, starting in brokerage before moving into asset management and investments at Troika, where he became CFO in late 2024. Based in Kelowna, Jeff brings insight on leadership, finance, and growth in one of Canada’s most dynamic regional markets. Key topics include: Career journey and lessons – What drew Jeff to real estate, his career path, and the mentors and experiences that shaped him.Troika Developments and leadership – Insights on the company, working with founder Renée Merrifield, and stepping into the CFO role.Life in the Okanagan – Jeff’s perspective on living and working in Kelowna, market trends, and future opportunities.Looking ahead – Troika’s upcoming projects and Jeff’s vision for the next chapter in Kelowna real estate.*There are a few moments of lower sound quality, but don't let it stop you from listening to the end ;-)

In this episode, host James Ashley welcomes Marlee Kohn, Vice President of ESG at Starlight Investments. Marlee has spent over 14 years at the intersection of real estate and sustainability, building a career focused on driving meaningful change in how the industry approaches environmental, social, and governance priorities. From her early work at Oxford Properties to her current leadership role at Starlight, she's tackled some of the sector's most pressing challenges—from climate action and energy efficiency to resident engagement and social impact. Recognized as a Clean50 Emerging Leader, Marlee brings both deep technical expertise and a genuine commitment to creating impact that matters. In this conversation, we explore what it takes to move ESG from buzzword to real action in the real estate sector, and what's standing in the way. Key topics include: Social impact and resident engagement – What meaningful community engagement actually looks like and where the industry is falling short.Net-zero commitments – The biggest opportunities and challenges in accelerating progress, from low-carbon retrofits to financing models.Resilience and future-proofing – How owners should be thinking about climate and market risks, and what lessons Canadian real estate can learn from other sectors.Bill C-59 and disclosure requirements – How new transparency rules are reshaping the conversation around greenwashing and what it means for smaller operators.Getting buy-in from the top – Strategies for building trust with investors and senior leaders to advance ESG initiatives.Marlee's career journey – What first drew her to sustainability in real estate, the defining moments that shaped her path, and the toughest challenges she's overcome.Advice for leaders and emerging talent – Where overwhelmed executives should start, how to balance short-term pressures with long-term goals, and what the next generation needs to know about making their mark.Tune in to hear Marlee's perspective on navigating the ESG landscape, building momentum for change, and what it takes to lead with purpose in an industry that's finally starting to take sustainability seriously.

In this episode, host Richard Costello welcomes John Brendan McEown, Chief Executive Officer of the Burnaby Housing Authority. John Brendan (JB) has been a leader in affordable housing for over a decade. As Associate Vice President of Development Strategies at BC Housing, he guided a team of professionals delivering thousands of homes across the province. With a Master of Urban Studies from Simon Fraser University and a track record of shaping housing policy and delivery, JB now steps into the inaugural CEO role at the Burnaby Housing Authority at a pivotal moment for housing in the region. Key topics include: Career influences and lessons – What inspired JB to pursue housing and how his time at BC Housing shaped his approach.The Burnaby Housing Authority’s vision – Why it was created, what makes it unique, and its goals for the next decade.Balancing perspectives – How JB’s public-sector background informs his leadership and the advantages it brings to a development-focused organization.Innovations in housing delivery – The potential role of modular construction, robotics, and new technologies in solving supply challenges.Leadership at a young age – Insights on stepping into executive leadership, building culture, and lessons learned so far.Looking ahead – What gives JB optimism in a time of cost pressures, permitting delays, and market uncertainty.Tune in to hear JB’s perspective on launching a new housing authority, the challenges and opportunities ahead, and what it takes to build sustainable, affordable communities in a rapidly evolving housing landscape