Q+A with Cape Group President Reisa Schwartzman
Our Cape Group President Reisa Schwartzman represents the second generation of the Schwartzman family and is a driving force behind the vision and evolution of the business, from property development to asset management.
Reisa has a diverse background as a graduate in Leadership of the Wexner Institute, and with degrees in psychology and exercise physiology from UBC. Reisa grew up on development sites, acquiring the passion for building by seeing her father in action as he founded and grew the Cape Group business.
We spent a few minutes chatting with Reisa in an effort to learn more about her passion for development.
What is your favourite part of the day as a development professional?
I enjoy the fact that each day is different and I have the flexibility to make a significant impact on our projects, being impactful on all aspects of a deal. Whether it be building or development, real estate is a dynamic field. I like that we are able to react quickly, with our fully integrated team.
I also love to work on many aspects of the business. My favourite parts of the job include:
- Recruiting investors
- Marketing our firm and assets
- Sourcing potential opportunities
- Building a team to work with including architects, engineers, etc.
- Developing and managing relationships with investors, lenders, brokers and city officials
- Negotiating leases
- Sales
What are your biggest professional goals?
Setting goals can be important in reaching new levels. In the past I have kept my goals to myself and set different goals for the company. But as our company continues to grow, my personal goals need to be shared.
I try to set SMART Goals (see acronym below).
Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic – Timely
Specifically, I want to continue to build and develop meaningful projects that contribute to the community and add long term legacy projects for future generations. I want to leave behind a legacy for my family and contribute to building a strong foundation.