Challenging Markets - It’s Not Life or Death
Episode description
Welcome back to Reinventing Real Estate. In this episode, hosts Jenna and Jamie Harris sit down with Mark Slatter, Chairman and Founder of Olympian Homes, one of the UK’s most experienced living-sector developers.
From joining the Royal Marines at 17 to building Olympian Homes into a specialist living-sector developer, Mark shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, resilience and long-term business building. Drawing on experiences from a near-death helicopter incident in Norway to multiple real estate downturns, he explains why calm decision-making, trust and the ability to assess your options are essential in all walks of life.
The conversation explores Olympian’s growth, culture and founding principles, from commercial discipline and team welfare to giving back and building trust through accuracy and consistency. Jenna, Jamie and Mark also discuss the future of Co-living, looking at why the sector is more than a high-density residential product and what it must get right across design, amenity, affordability, operations and community. This episode is essential listening for capital investors, developers and next-generation leaders interested in resilient leadership, long-term value creation and the future of the UK living sector.
Topics covered:
Leadership lessons from the Royal Marines
Building Olympian Homes over three decades
Navigating recessions and challenging market conditions
The evolution of PBSA, BTR and Co-living
What good Co-living needs to get right
Affordability, key workers and the future of urban living
How planning could better support design quality and delivery
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----This episode was pre-recorded in May 2026. Consequently, certain discussions regarding market conditions and interest rates may no longer reflect current circumstances. We appreciate your understanding.