What is Michael Geller’s job? To him, his role has ranged from architect to urban planner to developer to real estate consultant. Not to be outdone, he entered politics by running for Vancouver city council – after all, real estate and politics are often intertwined.

Downtown Vancouver is the pulse of the city’s business and cultural development. For Jane Talbot’s role as CEO of its business improvement association, she has to connect regularly with officials, the public, and its members. “It’s about being out there and being available,” she stresses. The key is collaboration so the organization can tackle the big issues to make downtown thrive and succeed.

When developing and buying real estate, how do you make good decisions? This is what Ryan Berlin helps with, in his role with rennie & associates. He and his team do the research to guide clients to understand the complexities of the industry and cut through the noise in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Want to grow your business and raise funding for it? That is what Diraj Goel does, with GetFresh Ventures. Not only does he help with venture capital, but he also looks at strategic goals and how to set companies up for long-term success.