Hi everyone, my name is Anthony and I am the Director of Europe here at Global House Estates. I have been at this company for 10 years now and I can definitely say that I view everyone here as family. However, as much as I love being a part of the property industry, it was never something that I set out to do.

When I finished college, I went straight into work. Back then, computers were the future of making money, and I had spent my time in college studying IT. However, unlike the stereotypical tech professional, I was always quite social and loved chatting with everyone, which set me apart. Once I graduated, I went looking for jobs within the IT industry, not realising that my future career would be in real estate.

While I had a keen interest in property, it never really crossed my mind as a career path. That changed when my parents decided to buy a property. As they weren’t fluent in English, the responsibility of sorting out the mortgage and handling the process fell on me. I was just 16 years old, and although it was challenging, it was an eye-opening experience and it introduced me to the property industry.

The pivotal moment was when I had an interview with an estate agent which set me on this path. As much as I loved the new opportunity and challenges, the first year was the hardest and was definitely a steep learning curve!

Fast forward to September 2014, I joined GHE as a self-employed Business Development Manager. I came with nothing but knowledge, tasked with creating a network of landlords and finding people who wanted to work with me. This was trickier than it sounds, as although I had long-term relationships with many landlords and connections from my previous jobs, GHE was a new agency and had yet to develop community trust unlike long-established agencies who had built decades of trust in their local areas. GHE also covered a much wider market than just Elephant and Castle, as we still do. My biggest challenge was convincing landlords – especially those in the Canary Wharf area where I had strong relationships – that our team could deliver the same level of service they were used to from Elephant and Castle. Once I had bought landlords to GHE, our work spoke for itself and they have stayed with us for 10 years.

Hard work often goes unnoticed, but sitting here ten years later, I take pride in the knowledge I’ve passed on and the success I’ve helped others achieve. I firmly believe that this industry isn’t just about transactions – it’s about relationships. It is not all about working, it is about building relationships with people and allowing them to learn from you.

I’ve come to understand that leadership isn’t about making people do what I do – it’s about guiding them, identifying their strengths, and helping them grow. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of listening to my team and recognising that each person has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. In my opinion, that is the right way to lead in work and in life.

If there’s one person who has shaped my career and work ethic, it’s my mum. She is the strongest and most influential person in my life. Growing up in Cyprus, she was a self-taught seamstress, the eldest of four girls, and was sent to the UK at just 14. She didn’t know English, had never been on a plane, and yet, through sheer hard work, she built a life for herself. From working in a café to using her talent as a seamstress for brands like Laura Ashley, Jeff Banks, and Marks & Spencer, her determination has always been my inspiration. It is safe to say that her mindset and resilience shaped my own, and nearly 27 years later working in an industry I love, I cannot thank her enough.

If I could go back and give advice to my younger self, it would be simple. Enjoy the small moments! Appreciate the process and recognise that the small goals on the way to the main goal are what shapes success.

I will be with GHE until I retire. As I’ve said, this company is more than work – it’s family. I love meeting landlords, vendors, and working with young talent to set them up for success.

Beyond that, I also want to expand into the European market, taking what we’ve built and growing it even further.

The journey has been long, challenging and incredibly rewarding. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I look forward to continuing to build, mentor, and grow alongside this industry and the people in it.