Slate operates in a very collaborative environment. Everyone’s opinion is valued and junior staff get exposure to different aspects of a transaction right from the beginning of their career. For me that was an opportunity to be part of a billion-dollar acquisition of a legacy real estate portfolio right out of the gates.

l love the excitement that comes with facing new challenges. I have had the privilege of having many different roles across Slate’s businesses, in Canada, Europe and the US. In a more traditional corporate environment, it’s easy to get complacent and comfortable in a role. Here, whenever I find myself getting a little too comfortable, I step into something new and exciting.

I am most proud of opening our German office and developing the foundation of Slate’s business in Europe. I joined Slate in Toronto and in 2016 had the opportunity to move to Germany, where I opened the Frankfurt office. Over four years, we were able to develop strong local relationships, raise capital for three European funds, acquire hundreds of properties and expand our team in Frankfurt with several great local hires. Having the opportunity, and the challenge, of building a business from the ground up, with the trust and support of the Slate team back in North America, was an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. I was then presented the opportunity to move to Chicago, where we now have similar plans to scale, but it’s still gratifying to see the team in Europe thriving.