Keep it digital, embrace change and channel Roger Federer. This is the advice from the property industry’s fresh crop of up-and-coming talent.
They may be young, but this lot are leading the charge when it comes to the evolution of real estate. And not just on the tech side. This year’s EG Rising Stars are making waves across the whole sector from law to development and from leasing to sustainability.
Proof that you can be as much of a change agent whether you work for a big, established corporate or an agile start-up, these 14 young individuals aged 35 and under are the ones to watch.
If you want to stay ahead of the pack, these are the founders, investors, influencers, advisers, agents and innovators to have on speed dial.
The environmental evangelist: Etienne Cadestin, 31, managing director, Longevity Partners
What do you think the future of the property sector holds?
I think that by 2050 all properties will be valued on their carbon impact rather than their location.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? Christiana Figueres, who led the Paris agreement for the UN framework convention in climate change. I think it’s the most important multi-lateral agreement of the century and she makes my work much easier.
What advice would you offer to those starting out in the industry? Failure is a good thing. Fall and rise again.
How much influence do you feel you have as a young person in the industry? There is no age in life to do anything – it is about how motivated you are. If you’re impact-driven then you could be 22 or you could be 50 and still be a key asset to the team.
The entrepreneur: Vanessa Lee Butz, 27, founder, District Technologies
If you had to name one quality that got you to where you are today, what would it be? Not being scared of networking.
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? It needs to be more digital. The bricks-and-mortar real estate industry is very traditional. In German it is called “immobilien”, which translates literally as “non-movable”. It needs to be more fluid and flexible.
What should the property industry expect to see from you next? As of this autumn, will be working with some of the biggest landlords in London. We will be working hard towards improving the work-life balance and experience of tenants in traditional assets.
The software supremo: Charlie Wade, 32, managing director, VTS
If you had to name the one quality that got you to where you are now, what would it be? Luck.
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? Big change. I think we are going through it right now. Everyone talks about it, but I don’t think anyone really knows what the change is going to be. But, I think that it will be dramatic over the next ten years.
What advice would you offer to those that are just starting out in the industry? Look at where real estate is going and build an infrastructure which you think is going to help you scale and grow and make digital and tech the centrepiece of any ecosystem that you build. Do things differently to the way they have been done in the past and move forwards, not backwards.
The City slicker: Natalie Lelliott, 28, director, Colliers International
If you had to name the one quality that got you to where you are now, what would it be? Dedication to surpass expectations.
What can the industry expect to see from you next? I’m starting a new chapter as a director in the City office agency team at Colliers, having left CBRE, and am very excited for the road ahead. I will continue to push the boundaries in achieving client and business objectives in an ever-changing market.
How much influence do you feel you have as a young person in the industry? My influence grows exponentially as I develop my career. I have had the opportunity to contribute to some high-profile projects in London on behalf of major clients, which has enabled me to influence their transformation. I also mentor a number of people in the industry in order to encourage the growth of new talent in the market.
The finance guru: David Gingell, 32, director, continental Europe debt holdings, PGIM
Who has been your biggest inspiration? An American economist called Irwin Stelzer. He really had his finger on the pulse throughout the credit crisis. He is also the only guy that I have ever seen who was a repeat guest on NewsNight and didn’t get completely torn apart by Paxman – Paxman actually liked him, which was surprising.
Do you think quarterly or annually? Beyond annually. We are a long-term lender, so we don’t just look at what’s in front of us now, we look at where these investments will be in the longer term.
What advice would you offer those starting out in the industry? Network and build those contacts and trusts, because that’s what we all deal in.
The disruptors: Tom Watson, 26, co-founder and chief technology officer, and Tushar Agarwal, 28, co-founder, Hubble
If you had to name the one quality that got you to where you are now, what would it be?
Tushar: Tenacity.
Tom: Always learning and trying to grow. I never think that I know everything.
What do you think the future of the property sector holds?
Tushar: It will be less about relationships and owning capital in buildings and more about data-led decisions.
Tom: The property sector has taken a long time to catch up on technological innovations, but some of the larger companies are starting to keep their eye on this. I think not only will we see them catering for these new companies, but we will see them starting that new technology themselves.
How much influence do you feel you have as young persons in the industry?
Tushar: People are starting to listen to our generation as we are becoming the end users of property and millennials are becoming the people who spend money on property. Whether the industry likes it or not, it is going to have to listen to us.
Tom: At the end of the day, influence in property is the same as in any other industry – it has be earned.
The industrial innovator: Charlie Pool, 34, founder, Stowga
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? I think that we are going to see a big switch to a serviced model. Our customers do not like being committed to a lease; they like the short-term flexibility of being able to get out of a commitment at any time.
How much influence do you feel you have as a young person in the industry? A surprising amount. I have been asked to help advise at a university next year on its curriculum for the future of logistics.
What advice would you offer those starting out? Picture success and relentlessly go for it.
The Canary crusader: Tarun Mathur, 31, leasing associate, Canary Wharf Group
If you had to name the one quality that got you to where you are now, what would it be? Being humble.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? Roger Federer. He is a legend and really down to earth, which is quite inspiring.
What advice would you offer to those starting out in the industry? Don’t be afraid to ask questions, respect your seniors and learn from them. Young people now are really ambitious and self-starters and they want autonomy, which is challenging the traditional methods of working.
The space invader: Michelle Rothwell, 30, founder, Watch This Space
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? It will adapt to the changes in the way people are living and working. We have recently developed a property into a co-working space. Now it is not just a place for people to work, but also a space that provides an area for collaboration. It will be about creating communities that can inspire people.
How much influence do you feel you have as a young person in the industry? It is down to young people to drive and create their own market. As long as you are not copying what everyone else is doing and focusing on speaking to people to find out what they want, then you can have influence.
Do you think quarterly or annually? Quarterly. I don’t like to think too far ahead and like to go with the flow.
The fixer: Rajeev Nayyar, 35, founder, Fixflo
If you had to name the one quality that got you to where you are now, what would it be? Collaboration. The software market is increasingly about co-operation rather than walled gardens and secret-system solutions. We built incorruptibility into the heart of our product and culture and we seek to collaborate rather than to compete.
What do you think that the future of the property industry holds? I think that with the greater technologisation of the industry, those that are driving the industry are those that are the most adapted to technology. So, technology is not just part of a company’s real estate strategy –it is now the core driver.
What advice would you offer to someone starting out in the industry? Relish every challenge you face – when you overcome it, it becomes a barrier to entry to everybody else.
The change agent: Tom McWilliams, 32, development director, JLL, North West
If you had to name the one quality that got you to where you are now, what would it be? Ambition.
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? Huge disruption from technology. I think that the trend of urbanisation is set to continue and the impact this will have on the residential and industrial landscape will be vast.
Do you feel that a larger, younger workforce is a good thing for the industry? If so, why? I get a little bit frustrated with the attitude of, “This is the way that it has always been in property”. The more disruptors and the more young people we have, the better.
The resolver: Mark Reading, 31, property litigator, Mischon de Reya
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? Artificial intelligence will change the face of what real estate lawyers do. Gone are the days where you spend a year sitting training and going through documents.
What can the property industry expect to see from you next? More of the same. I had two cases in the high court this year. One of them was the Vivienne Westwood penalty dispute, in which I acted for Vivienne Westwood, which we won. I also acted for Minerva in a dispute against Greenland, which was a big planning dispute.
What advice would you offer to those starting out in the industry? Get as much advice from as many people as you possibly can.
The court ruler: Laura Birnbaum, 34, deputy director HM Courts and Tribunals Service, Ministry of Justice
What do you think the future of the property sector holds? I hope it holds more diversity and variety. I fear it will hold more of the same.
With the rise in start-ups and a younger workforce, do you feel that a larger, younger, workforce is a good thing for the industry, if so, why? It feels good now, but when I have a boss who is younger than I then I will probably be grinding my teeth.
I think young people bring a lot of dynamism and energy, which is great, but I think experience does count.
What advice would you offer those starting out in the industry? Do something substantial first and don’t run after the glitz and glamour of start-ups straight away.
With thanks to Network Rail for the use of 67-68 Albert Embankment, SE7, as the venue for our 2017 photo shoot. Six of the arches have been redeveloped as part of the area’s wider regeneration, with the first wave of new tenants including Antic Collective and Mother Kelly’s moving in this year.
To send feedback, e-mail amber.rolt@egi.co.uk or tweet @AmberRoltEG or @estatesgazette
