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Another standout voice was Sophie Anapliotis, a property manager since 2010 who launched her own agency - Element Property Network - in 2021. Now leading a growing team in Geelong, Sophie is also a passionate mental health advocate. She encouraged attendees to be intentional in how they show up to their work and life. “Happiness is a choice. It’s something we create,” she said. “We attract the energy we put out - both positive and negative.” Sophie challenged the room to reflect on their mindset: “Is this just a job or is it a career for you? That’s the question.”
The leadership panel, moderated by Alana Bess from Ray White Victoria, brought together two of the network’s most respected leaders, Lauren Macpherson and Alex Mees, department head at Ray White Southbank. The pair spoke candidly about the lessons they’ve learned through experience and the importance of building culture from the ground up.
“Culture isn’t just what’s written on the wall. It’s living the example you set," Alex Mees said.
The conversation also touched on the realities of leadership beyond the job description. “As an employee, you walk out the door at 5.30pm. As a business owner, everything stops with you,” she said.
The event’s humour and humility reflected the daily realities faced by property managers. With over 61,000 rental properties under Ray White Victoria and Tasmania’s management, the team tackles an enormous volume of work - including, as Ms Macpherson playfully noted, “59,000 maintenance requests this week alone, 12,000 blocked toilets and 3,000 pet applications, including the occasional pony. I mean, really, where would the world be without us?”
She closed with a reminder of the unique strength this group represents: “You don’t just ‘manage property’. You manage expectations, timelines, personalities, and occasionally, the odd possum in the roof.”
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