Today we chatted with Laura, Director of Finance for Marlin Spring US Realty to learn about her unique role and how she and her team collaborate with other teams. Read the interview below to get to know Laura and learn more about her achievements and aspirations.
Hi Laura! Talk to us about your role and your team. What are you responsible for and how do you collaborate with other teams? What do you enjoy most about your role?
I am the Director of Finance for Marlin Spring US Realty for the portfolio of US muti-family investments within the umbrella of the Baz Group of Companies. Our team is focused on executing on strategic business plans for properties with value-add potential, to ultimately provide a return on investment to the stakeholders.
Given the challenges in the market in the past few years with inflation and rising interest rates, collaboration is integral for us to maintain agility and uncover opportunities in unforeseen circumstances.
I take responsibility for the integrity of the financial data and forecasting used to effectively drive strategic business decisions, as well as the identification of significant risks or opportunities. This includes the implementation of systems to organize information and controls to limit risks.
As a team leader I encourage consistent and clear communication on key priorities as we collaborate with corporate leadership, lenders, investors, 3rd party managers, vendors and various other strategic partners.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I take great pride in being a reliable resource for my team members, leadership and investors. When I can see that my contributions are impactful, I remain motivated and empowered to strive for excellence in my role, as well as continue to encourage those around me to do the same. Our platform has experienced a high level of change in a challenging market where resources are limited, and business plans have had to be reconstructed. I’ve proactively refocused, reprioritized and adjusted to make sure that I am contributing to the delivery of high priority items while also maintaining core responsibilities within the finance function.
Can you share a memorable achievement or project?
One of the most rewarding experiences is witnessing the growth of the individuals on my team, especially those who remain curious, show resilience and maintain integrity. When my team is equipped with the knowledge and tools to take ownership of tasks, and furthermore effectively communicate the requirements or impacts, we are successfully collaborating and able to achieve so much more together. In my opinion, building trust and cohesion among a team is underrated and quite possibly one of the best achievements for a person in a leadership position, especially when in the most challenging of times.
What are you most excited to work on in the coming months?
I look forward to playing a key role on the delivery of positive results for our investors as we tackle some challenging business plans. Although I can certainly contribute by calling upon my years of experience within real estate and private equity, further growth will certainly occur outside the realm of comfort. Therefore, I am most excited about what my team can accomplish while seizing these new opportunities.