Advertise on podcast: The PM Pour

Host Kylie Lange and Sadhana Smiles (CEO of Real Estate Industry Partners & Director of Harcourts Move) dive into the crisis of soaring customer expectations and property manager burnout. Sadhana breaks down recent industry survey data showing why burnout isn't a resilience issue, it's a systems issue. She shares how she structures her own 30-hour flexible workplace, the importance of psychological safety, and how tools like the Rise Initiative’s Real Care App provide essential mental health support for property managers. In this episode, we cover: The Expectation Gap: How 24/7 tech has changed client demands for property managers Systems over Churn: Why 40%+ of PMs feel stretched thin and how to redesign workloads Trust-Based Leadership: Managing small teams without micromanagement and creating a 30-hour work week The Real Care App: Free, confidential counseling, breathing exercises, and financial tools built by the industry for the industry Purpose Beyond Business: Sadhana’s philanthropic work supporting women's health in Fiji https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/future-fit-leadership/id1665791866 Rise - The Real Care App - https://www.riseinitiative.org.au/real-care-app

In this engaging episode of The PM Pour, host Kylie Lange sits down with Ange Morris, former corporate Financial Controller turned rent roll owner and property compliance leader. Ange shares her journey of taking a pre-COVID redundancy, jumping into real estate business ownership with a "finance brain," and organically building a multi-office rent roll from zero to hundreds of properties. She breaks down the difference between "hunter" and "order-taking" BDMs, why protecting cash flow matters during acquisitions, and how leading with radical honesty and human vulnerability saved her business during tough moments. In this episode: Transitioning from corporate corporate finance to building a rent roll from scratch Leveraging organic growth equity for acquisitions without draining cash reserves The difference between "order-taking" BDMs and true "hunter" BDMs Qualifying landlords and why it’s okay to turn down difficult clients How being honest with tenants can save massive property management mistakes Ange’s top advice for business owners: Protect your people and have their backs

Host of The PM Pour, Kylie Lange welcomes industry titan Sadhana Smiles, CEO of Real Estate Industry Partners, Director of Harcourts Move, author, and host of the Future Fit Leadership podcast. Fresh off being named one of Victoria's top female CEOs, Sadhana shares her extraordinary journey from arriving in Australia as a 16-year-old from Fiji to becoming real estate's first female CEO. She unpacks the realities of breaking barriers, the power of male allyship, and how post-COVID leadership requires psychological safety, empathy, and constructive conflict management. In this episode: Sadhana’s story: From Fiji boarding school to reception to real estate CEO Carrying the weight of being "the first and only" woman in the boardroom Why allyship and strong mentors paved the way for career-defining moves Shifting mindsets: Moving past double standards and labels placed on vocal women Modern conflict resolution: Psychological safety and the "beach ball" perspective https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/future-fit-leadership/id1665791866

In this insightful episode of The PM Pour, host Kylie Lange is joined by Barbara Johns, Deputy President of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) and Auxiliary Magistrate. Barbara shares her extensive journey through law, corporate governance, and tribunal leadership before peeling back the curtain on how SACAT operates. She breaks down the daily realities for tribunal members handling thousands of housing applications, how property managers can best prepare complex files, and practical ways to avoid delays—including using consent orders for rent payment plans. In this episode: Barbara’s career path: From Supreme Court judge’s associate to Deputy President of SACAT The sheer volume of SACAT cases: Over 12,000 housing applications per year How tribunal members prepare for back-to-back hearings and complex internal reviews Practical tips for PMs: Clear applications, documentation, and managing landlord expectations Reducing hearing delays through consent orders and complete file lodgments The human side of tribunal decisions: Managing vicarious trauma and tough eviction rulings

In this powerful episode of The PM Pour, host Kylie Lange sits down with Ally Bain, Head of Property Management for Ray White (South Australia & Northern Territory). Ally opens up about her personal journey—how navigating tragic early life trauma at 17 shaped her resilience and maternal leadership style. She shares three decades of property management wisdom, unpacking how to handle domestic violence situations, why phone calls beat emails for building landlord trust, and how sales and PM teams can work together seamlessly. In this episode, we cover: Ally’s story: Turning personal tragedy into a 30-year property management career Handling sensitive domestic violence situations with compassion and privacy The "phone-first" rule: Why calling clients creates long-term trust and retention Managing high client expectations and setting firm after-hours boundaries Bridging the gap between sales and property management departments

Host Kylie Lange sits down with Rachel Kucina, Partner and Head of Property Management at Harcourts Adelaide Hills. With over 15 years of hands-on industry experience, Rachel shares her journey from starting out in sales archiving to stepping up into department leadership and business partnership. She breaks down the real-world strategies Harcourts Adelaide Hills uses to build an exceptional office culture—including "Wellness Wednesdays," off-site team meetings, structured flexibility, and quarterly one-on-ones. In this episode: Rachel’s career path: From 17-year-old TAFE student to partner in a thriving agency Innovative retention initiatives: "Wellness Wednesdays" and off-site team breakfasts Building genuine trust through work flexibility and family-first support Transitioning from portfolio manager to department leader Why business owners must create open spaces for staff to voice their career ambitions

In this episode of The PM Pour, host Kylie Lange sits down with industry authority Ashleigh Goodchild—a veteran WA business owner with over 1,200 properties under management, founder of the PM Collective, and creator of Coffee & Conversations. Ash shares her journey of starting a real estate business at age 23, her forward-thinking approach to industry changes (like upcoming energy rating regulations), and why she prefers "random leadership" over rigid staff meetings. She also opens up about handling team resignations through portfolio absorption and creating brand-new agency roles to handle high-stress tenant escalations. In this episode: Starting and scaling a business early with long-term family flexibility in mind The danger of "collecting minutes" vs. outsourcing specialized business tasks Why Ash shuns standard monthly one-on-ones for "random leadership" and spontaneous perks Creating specialized agency roles (like a Compliance & Escalation Officer) to protect PM mental health How Coffee & Conversations fosters authentic, local peer-to-peer learning

In Part 2 of this 2-part series, host Kylie Lange and Emma Gordon (Property Management Franchise Development Manager at Barry Plant Group) dive into leadership, team retention, and modern HR strategies for property management. Emma breaks down how business owners can successfully transition PMs into leadership roles, the non-negotiable checklist for supporting teams, and why workplace flexibility—like hybrid work and flexi-hours—is key to retaining top talent. In this episode, we cover: Transitioning top PMs into leadership (and avoiding the "sink or swim" trap) The Business Owner's Support Checklist: One-on-ones, "bad management" reviews, and recognition Modern retention tools: Hybrid work, flexi-hours, birthday leave, and service-based leave Building office culture: Doggy Fridays, active wellness, and day-one induction Why job seekers are interviewing you as an employer

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, host Kylie Lange is joined by Emma Gordon, Property Management Franchise Development Manager for the Barry Plant Group in Victoria. With 37 years of industry experience across every role—from trainee and business owner to corporate mentor—Emma shares her journey of building an agency from scratch, driving organic growth through creative grass-roots marketing, and making the transition into corporate leadership. She also opens up about overcoming severe burnout, managing stress after a life-altering health diagnosis, and why taking care of yourself is non-negotiable. In this episode, we cover: Emma's origin story: From 1980s TAFE trainee to buying into her first agency Building a 500-property rent roll from scratch without buying a portfolio Old-school BDM strategies that still work today (door knocking, community networking, local outreach) Balancing new motherhood with business ownership Managing burnout, autoimmune awareness, and the golden rule of self-care

In Part 2 of this 2-part series, host Kylie Lange continues her deep dive into fee maximization with property management training authority Darren Hunter from Inspired Growth Training (IGT). Darren pulls back the curtain on client psychology, explaining why property managers fall into the trap of low fees—and how to overcome the dreaded objection: "But the other agent is cheaper!" From understanding the "Law of the Main Game" to introducing green-light fees like tenant exit charges and realistic routine inspection rates, this episode is a masterclass in knowing your worth. In this episode, we cover: The Law of the Main Game: Why owners only care about the management fee (and ignore the rest) Unlocking New Revenue: Introducing the tenant exit fee and pricing routine inspections appropriately The Cost of "Cheap" Fees: Why 3% management fees bleed thousands of dollars from a business Mastering the Negotiation Game: Scripts and tactics to respond when prospective clients ask for a discount

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, host Kylie Lange sits down with renowned property management trainer, fee expert, and industry authority Darren Hunter from Inspired Growth Training (IGT). Darren shares how his team of "Avengers" built a flexible, global training business before diving into the biggest topics facing property management today. From using AI as an efficiency tool without losing the human touch to going back to basics with client service, Darren breaks down why landlords leave rent rolls—and how his early career in South Australia sparked a lifelong mission to eliminate "poverty fees." In this episode, we cover: The structure behind Inspired Growth Training (IGT) and adapting post-COVID AI in property management: Shortcut tool vs. losing problem-solving skills Why landlords really leave (Hint: It’s not AI, it’s unreturned phone calls) Darren’s origin story in fee maximization and challenging low-fee mindsets

In the final installment of our 3-part series, host Kylie Lange wraps up her conversation with Andrea Heading, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA). Andrea dives into Query Connect—REISA’s dedicated advice line handling nearly 700 calls a month—and explains how real-world feedback from property managers, landlords, and tenants directly shapes industry training. They also tackle the limits of AI in real estate, the critical importance of soft skills and mental well-being, and why it's time to change the public narrative surrounding real estate professionals. In this episode, we cover: REISA’s Query Connect: Who mans the line, common break-lease queries, and how caller data informs REISA training AI vs. Local Regulation: Why relying on AI for state-specific tenancy laws can backfire The Human Centered Agency: Balancing high-tech efficiency with non-negotiable soft skills and welfare checks Shifting the Narrative: Overcoming public perception polls, building an industry "brag book," and celebrating PM wins

In Part 2 of this 3-part series, host Kylie Lange continues her conversation with Andrea Heading, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA). Andrea shares what it was like taking the helm at REISA in early 2023 right as major changes to South Australia's Residential Tenancies Act rolled out. From navigating new regulations around pets and bond thresholds to addressing current pressure points with SACAT, CBS, and the controversial Form A1, Andrea offers an inside look at how REISA advocates for property managers, landlords, and the broader industry. In this episode, we cover: The reality of stepping into REISA as major tenancy reforms hit Key pressure points: SACAT delays, tribunal training, and modernizing photo/video evidence Unintended consequences of the Form A1 prescribed application form How property managers and agency owners can constructively advocate for real change

In Part 1 of this special series on The PM Pour, host Kylie Lange sits down with Andrea Heading, CEO of the Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA). Andrea shares her diverse, non-linear career path across media buying, tourism marketing, digital tech startups, and non-profit leadership, shedding light on how these varied experiences prepared her to lead South Australia’s peak real estate body. They discuss: Career Adaptability & Pivots: How working across diverse sectors—from marketing and tourism to digital fitness and disability employment—built the resilience and strategic mindset needed to lead REISA. Stepping Into Executive Leadership: What it takes to bring fresh perspectives into traditional industries and translate lessons from startups into peak body governance. Transferable Skills in Property Management: Why diverse backgrounds create stronger leaders and how property managers can leverage non-traditional skill sets for rapid career growth. Grab a beverage, sit back, and enjoy this candid look into career pivots, non-linear success, and dynamic leadership!

Property management is one of the most demanding professions in real estate, yet the stories, lessons and expertise behind the role are rarely shared.The PM Pour Podcast was created to change that.