In this episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, host Alex Whitlock speaks with Managed's key account manager Mignon Ahrns and customer success team leader Bairave Jeyasothy about how technology is reshaping the property management industry.

The guests explore how automation, owner portals, and task-based workflows are reshaping property managers' daily work, giving owners real-time visibility into payments, maintenance, and leases while easing administrative burdens.

The episode also examines operational pressures: from trust account reconciliations to constant emails and calls, and how automation lets agencies redirect focus from manual tasks to client relationships and business growth.

Finally, the discussion looks at the industry's evolution. With new entrants from sales and accounting, and agencies embracing automation, property management is becoming a more strategic, tech-driven profession.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, InvestorKit CEO and founder Arjun Paliwal joins host Liam Garman to unpack what defines an elite buyer's agent: from data-led investing, to technology and building a culture of excellence.

Fresh from winning Buyer's Agency of the Year at the Real Estate Business Awards for the third time, Paliwal reflects on building InvestorKit and the philosophy behind its rapid growth.

The conversation explores how Paliwal's background in banking and finance shaped his approach to property investing, highlighting the role of curiosity, data analysis, and strategic portfolio planning in identifying emerging markets ahead of the curve.

Paliwal also challenges common assumptions about the buyer's agent sector, warning that many investors rely on inspiration, hype, or simplistic formulas rather than rigorous analysis and long-term planning. He explains that elite buyer's agents differentiate themselves through specialised teams, deep research capability, and disciplined due diligence rather than one-person operations.

Finally, the discussion examines how technology, digital marketing, and content strategy are reshaping the industry.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au for more insights.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer speaks with Laing+Simmons head of people and growth Jacqui Barnes about the changing dynamics for women across the property industry.

The discussion explores how women are now increasingly moving into sales and leadership roles, although challenges such as gender bias and sexual harassment still persist, particularly for those early in their careers.

Barnes argues that stronger leadership development is critical for the sector, as many agency leaders are former high-performing sales agents who have not received formal leadership training.

The conversation also examines how many successful female agents thrive through relationship-driven prospecting, referrals, and community networks rather than traditional cold-calling approaches.

Barnes concludes by outlining the importance of building supportive networks and gathering better industry data, discussing her new survey designed to understand the barriers and opportunities shaping women's careers in real estate.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer sits down with URBAN X co-founder Steph Kong to explore how their predominantly female workforce is shaping culture, leadership, and performance in real estate.

Kong shares how URBAN X evolved into a business with 80 per cent female leadership and a workforce that is 90 per cent women – not through deliberate strategy, but through the nature of roles focused on compliance, process, and communication.

The discussion explores how a strong culture, built on clear values, accountability, and constant communication, has helped the business scale while maintaining a high-performing team. Kong explains why creating an ownership mindset – supported by clear key performance indicators, structured feedback, and strong onboarding – is essential for developing future leaders and retaining talent.

The episode also examines the cultural challenges that still exist across the real estate sector, including toxic workplaces and ego-driven environments that can drive burnout and push talented professionals away from the industry.

Kong argues that emotional intelligence, transparency, and proactive communication are powerful leadership tools, particularly in high-performing teams where conflict and feedback are inevitable.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au for more insights.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer sits down with Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, chief economist at PRD, to discuss how real estate agents can harness data to grow their footprint.

Dr Mardiasmo unpacks how the explosion of accessible data has changed the balance of power between agents and consumers. Where market intelligence once came from industry knowledge, buyers and sellers now arrive armed with Google searches, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and price trackers – meaning you need to be more accurate than ever.

The discussion examines how agents can differentiate themselves in a data-saturated market, with Mardiasmo arguing that value now lies in interpretation, crafting clear and credible narratives.

The episode also dives into the risks of oversimplification, the importance of data literacy across agencies, and why business data is critical for smarter resourcing and competitive strategy.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au for more insights.

In this episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, REB's Alex Whitlock sits down with Alistair Shearer, partner and head of property management at Belle Property, Mornington and Mount Eliza, to explore the hidden value of property management for your business.

Whitlock and Shearer discuss why many property owners don't fully appreciate what their managers do, and how a lack of communication about services can make fees seem expensive. They explain how educating owners about processes and aligning management strategies with long-term goals helps build trust, demonstrate value, and strengthen client relationships.

The pair also dive into growth strategies for agencies: how assessing operational capacity, addressing pressure points, and pursuing both organic growth and acquisitions in a considered way can scale a business without creating unnecessary risk.

Finally, they cover the human side of property management: turning the manager-owner relationship from transactional to advisory, fostering collaboration between sales and property management teams, and leveraging market trends like high-end rentals and low vacancies for competitive advantage.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, editor Liam Garman sits down with DiJones CEO Dean Mackie and COO Brent May to explore what it takes to be the "agent of tomorrow" and how you can thrive in the rapidly evolving real estate market.

They discuss the speed of industry changes, from anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) reforms and Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) compliance to the disruptive impact of generative AI, and how top agents can balance innovation with the human connection.

Mackie explains the philosophy behind agents needing to "unlearn" outdated habits, while May reveals how enhanced databasing must form a key centrepiece of the agent's strategy – allowing them to find buyers before going to market.

The conversation turns to how competition is reshaping commission structure and the role of technology in marketing and property discovery, providing a pragmatic roadmap for agents and leaders navigating digital transformation and market consolidation.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au for more insights.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, editor Liam Garman sits down with Lloyd Ernst, founder and CEO of Cloudstaff, for a deep dive into how principals and directors can build scalable, future-ready, and tech-enabled real estate businesses.

Ernst reflects on his business's journey, founding companies that have since become multinational, providing insight into how remote workforces that align with local culture and performance objectives are fundamental for growth in today's real estate market.

Ernst and Garman then dive into the challenges of building trust and accountability across offshore teams, how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping workflows, and why the next generation of agencies will operate more like tech-enabled service companies than traditional offices. They then explore how Cloudstaff helps companies do this securely, overseeing cyber risks and enabling staff to effectively support the business.

Finally, Ernst offers practical insights for principals on how to leverage remote teams of any size without losing control, quality, or brand integrity, and explains how Cloudstaff's tailored training ensures offshore staff can quickly integrate and contribute to business success.