"Wear Many Hats" Podcast

Another great episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we sit down with Tarniah Thompson, Head of FM and Sustainability at SHW, to hear her remarkable journey from starting out as a receptionist to leading facilities strategy and ESG across a major UK real estate firm. Tarniah talks about mentorship, representation, and the lessons she’s learned rising through the ranks, as well as the challenges of balancing FM, sustainability, and risk in today’s changing property landscape. Packed with honest insights and leadership takeaways, this is a must-watch for anyone in property or facilities management.

7 Aug 37min

Another great episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we sit down with James Watson, Property Director at Ballymore, to hear his incredible journey from retail shop floors to overseeing 4,200+ homes and mixed-use developments across East London. James shares how he transitioned into property management, the challenges of running large-scale estates like Royal Wharf and Riverscape, and the balancing act of community, ESG, and compliance in today’s real estate landscape. Packed with real-life leadership lessons, behind-the-scenes stories (including the iconic Embassy Gardens Sky Pool), and candid insights on the evolving property market. This episode is a must-watch for anyone in facilities, property management, or development.

5 Aug 43min

Kicking off another brilliant episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we sit down with Ray Bloom, Managing Director & CEO at John D. Wood, to hear his remarkable journey, from school work experience to owning a 150-year-old property management business by the age of 25. Ray shares the challenges of taking over a struggling company, leading a team twice his age, and navigating the evolving world of commercial property. He talks about the balance between tech innovation and old-school service, why AI won’t replace human connection, and how he’s reshaped his business for long-term growth. A brilliant, no-filter conversation packed with practical lessons for anyone in property, leadership, or FM.

31 Juli 39min

Another exciting episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we chat with Luke Fellone, Director of Coworking at Working From_, The Hoxton, who shares his unconventional rise from barista and performer to workspace leader. Luke opens up about his deep roots in hospitality, what it really means to lead with service, and why building community isn’t a strategy, it’s a mindset. From fixing lights to analysing P&L reports, he walks us through the reality of wearing many hats in the flex-space industry. A vibrant episode full of personality, practical leadership insights, and reflections on the future of hybrid workspaces.

29 Juli 37min

Another standout episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we sit down with Jonathan Ritchie, Executive Director of Property & Development at Chatsworth Schools, to hear his inspiring story, from early jobs in coaching and wellness to leading the estates and property function across a group of 14 schools. Jonathan shares why listening is foundational to leadership, how his career evolved from front-line service to strategic leadership, and what it takes to manage compliance, development, and capital works in the education sector. We also dive into the future of school environments, from CPD and ESG to smart building tech and empowering young talent. A thoughtful conversation for anyone in leadership, education, or property.

24 Juli 38min

Another brilliant episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast!This time, we sit down with Rupert Dean, CEO and Co-Founder of X+WHY, to hear his remarkable journey, from corporate law to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing flex-space and members club brands.Rupert shares how a chance opportunity in Africa sparked his love for property, why he believes workspaces should feel like home, and the lessons he’s learned from scaling to 14 sites while staying true to a mission of people, planet, and purpose.We also dive into how office culture is changing, how landlords can future-proof their buildings, and why hospitality-led workspaces will define the next chapter of commercial property.A brilliant episode for anyone navigating leadership, property, or modern workplace strategy.

22 Juli 41min

Another great episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we sit down with Reiss Knight, Facilities Manager at Huckletree, to hear his career story — from leaving school at 16 and lifeguarding, to running eight sites and managing high-pressure FM projects.Reiss discusses his transition from leisure to property operations, his experience mobilizing a £multi-million office in just 12 weeks, and what it’s like managing CAPEX, PPMs, and demanding clients across multiple cities.We also get into the evolving role of AI, ESG initiatives, and the future of co-working spaces.A must-watch for anyone navigating facilities, property management, or building operations.

17 Juli 37min

Kicking off another brilliant episode of Season 2 of the Wear Many Hats podcast! This time, we sit down with James Hebberts, Principal FM Consultant at Arcadis, to hear his career journey, from summer caretaker to leading major consultancy projects across government, NHS, and private estates.James shares what drew him into FM, how saying yes to every opportunity built his skillset, and what it’s really like to transition from hands-on operations into high-level consultancy.We also dive into the future of facilities management, from ESG and smart building tech to data-driven asset optimisation, and why staying curious, proactive, and people-focused is key to career growth in this fast-changing sector.A brilliant listen for anyone in FM, operations, or property management.

3 Juli 36min