Property management has a way of teaching us resilience, but there comes a point where constantly pushing through is no longer a badge of honour. This conversation explores what happens when ambition, business growth and responsibility collide with burnout, family life and the very real need for peace. My guest Anna Sutherland has spent 19 years in real estate and property management, growing rent rolls from scratch, leading teams, building and selling her own business, and navigating some significant personal and professional challenges along the way. Her story is a powerful reminder that a successful career doesn’t have to come at the expense of your health, relationships or the life you actually want to live.
We also unpack the opportunities that exist beyond the traditional property manager pathway. From starting and organically growing a rent roll to business development, leadership, training and mentoring, Anna shares practical lessons from building businesses at different stages of her career. There’s plenty here for BDMs too, particularly around persistence, building strong referral networks, creating a consistent digital footprint and becoming visible as the local expert. With Anna now receiving appraisal opportunities through ChatGPT recommendations, our discussion highlights an important shift for our industry: your online presence isn’t simply marketing anymore – it’s becoming part of how future clients discover, assess and choose you.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is the importance of knowing when something needs to change. If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted or questioning whether property management is still for you, the answer may not be walking away from the industry altogether. It might be getting clear on what you genuinely enjoy, deciding what you want your career and life to look like, and taking small, deliberate steps towards it. Back yourself, protect your energy, invest in your personal development and be thoughtful about the people and environments you allow around you. Sometimes growth looks like building more; sometimes it looks like having the courage to choose less chaos and a whole lot more peace.
“I think if you can look at the ways in which you can do your own personal development, you just get better longevity and industry.”
- Anna Sutherland
We cover:
A big shout-out to our amazing podcast partner Ailo.
Ailo is an Australian property management software and app designed to streamline communication and payments between property managers, owners, and tenants. It offers in-app chat, real-time rent tracking, and maintenance management, aiming to modernise property management and improve transparency for all parties.
Book an Ailo Demo and get your Mecca Gift Card:
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https://www.instagram.com/ailohq/
Kylie’s Resources:
Property Management Growth School: https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/TPM-BDMSchool
Digital Marketing School: https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/digitalschool
That Property Mum Courses: https://www.thatpropertymum.com.au/courses/
The PM Accelerate Membership: https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/accelerate
Book a Strategy Call with Kylie: https://calendly.com/kylie-tpm/coaching-call
Kolmeo: https://kolmeo.com/
Find out about our Done for You Lead Generation - https://calendly.com/kylie-tpm/done-for-you-leads-discovery-call
35 AI Prompts to help you Grow your Business on Social Media: https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/35-prompts-to-grow-your-property-management-business-on-social-media
https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/5-misktakes-replay
Digital Marketing and AI Academy
https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/digitalmarketingyes
Connect with Anna Sutherland:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-sutherland-10b18022/
https://www.instagram.com/adelaidehillspropertymanager/
https://www.facebook.com/annasutherlandraywhite
0448 099 936
Tiktok: @adelaidehillspm
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