How is your city shaped? This is what Anne McMullin has to know, as the leader of the Urban Development Institute. In her job, she is constantly educating and informing others about how British Columbia’s communities are developed, particularly around real estate issues. This is a far cry from where she started out, in the journalism world; but over time, she found that the business world interested her more and more – so she made a career pivot.

Aubrey Kelly knows there are so many things that you can’t control – but you can set the direction that you’re heading. That is the philosophy he has used for his role as CEO of UBC Properties Trust, which handles real estate portfolios of the University of British Columbia. You don’t have to be an expert – you simply have to figure out where you’re headed and have others around you buy into your plan.

Heading up a real estate association is not a job you can go to school to learn. That’s because it's a rare position and schools can’t prepare you for this type of position. The job is part visionary, leader, guiding hand, advocate and so much more.

Volodya Gusak co-founded DENCITI Development Corporation in 2018. The Vancouver-based real estate development company creates urban, industrial, commercial, and residential developments.

There are specialties in the real estate sector that are vitally important that virtually no one hears about unless you are deep into the business. Industrial lands are one such area and they require talent with extremely specific needs. Eric Aderneck’s career opened up a world of possibilities in the development of properties that meet the needs of light industrial businesses.