An environmentally aware company thinks about its impact on society and the environment in addition to its financial performance. Such a business is sustainable because it helps maintain the integrity in which it works, creating a setting in which the business may flourish. , Renata Kinde-Czyz, Managing Director of METRO PROPERTIES Poland, plans to make all managed assets environmentally sustainable over the next 15 years and educate staff, tenants, and consumers on how to lessen their influence on the environment and its resources.
Staunch Journey
Renata found herself at a crossroads following her graduation from the University of Oslo in Norway. The University of Cambridge offered her a scholarship and an invitation to pursue a doctorate in literature. Since she enjoys intellectual inquiry, it was really appealing. However, her nature suited a job in business better. She loves a challenge, is infamously curious, enjoys creating visions, and is constantly looking for ways to improve. The business world won.
Prior to working for METRO PROPERTIES in Poland, she was employed by ITT Multicomponent American affiliate in Oslo, Norway. She was in charge of selling electronic components to important clients. This was a lesson in customer focus and company procedures for life. She managed, and she even received a promotion. Later, she made the decision to pursue an MBA. She started her own firm, got a job teaching English at Unilever, and arranged deals between Polish and Swedish businesses to pay for her studies. It helped that she spoke Norwegian and could speak Swedish. She later rose to the position of deputy centre manager at the KLIF shopping mall and developed a passion for managing commercial real estate. She was hired by METRO because of the job. She spent 25 years with METRO, and during that time, she was promoted in 2005 to the Board and in 2012 to the position of Managing Director.
Metro Properties
The real estate division of METRO AG, METRO PROPERTIES, combines extensive expertise in both wholesale and retail. It is in charge of the asset management of 24 Makro stores, as well as the property management of 9 M1 Shopping Centers and 4 Retail Parks. The team holds more than 600 long-term and more than 1,000 short-term contracts, and manages almost 800,000 sqm of GLA. Both asset management and property management are under Renata’s purview. She believes it was a natural progression to become an expert in asset management. She first took on the property management of a single shopping centre before expanding to the entire portfolio. In 2004, the company started working with Apollo Rida as a Master Lessee for M1. Over the past 20 years, the team has created and put into place initiatives for the centres that have raised their value. As well as GE, Pradera, Octava, and other asset management/investment fonds, they have worked for them as well. Right now, the company is working with Redefine-EPP’s Polish subsidiary.
Roles and responsibilities
Today, as Managing Director, Renata Kinde-Czyz is responsible for the management and overall outcomes of two companies: METRO PROPERTIES in Poland and METRO PROPERTIES Real Estate Management. She considers herself a leader who coaches the company toward sustainable growth. When it comes to the clients, employees, and tenants, sustainability serves as their compass. Due to the changing environment, sustainability is a process of constant improvement, which is in their DNA. There is no way she could have had a job that was more exciting. She was able to observe and take part in the entire life cycle of many assets.
It is a really rewarding experience when the assets become more valuable and appealing as a result of the contributions. Finding the best plan is like winning a prize in the process. In Renata’s opinion, there are no such things as poor assets only poor strategies. She believes that her experience in property management really benefits her asset management duties. Understanding business operations, tenants, and the facility management market enables the development of strategies that are specifically tailored to boost revenue or draw in tenants and investors.
Innovative Ideas
Renata is the proud mother of two gorgeous kids, whom she adores very much. On the other hand, she enjoys imagining the future, including prospective commercial assets and their clients. She enjoys foreseeing trends and making adjustments to move things toward the ideal. “Now is the future,” she said, therefore pursuing post-diploma work in “Service Design.” This methodology makes it possible to create distinctive, cutting-edge services and procedures. The company has a good history of designed innovations, such as the IMall app for tenant and M1 customer communication, bots that perform monotonous tasks, community engagement and promotion initiatives, digitalized corporate operations, and others.
Social Contribution
For the past 15 years, environmental awareness has been the company’s top goal. As part of the company’s effort to make M1 retail centres environmentally sustainable, they have provided education about resource conservation to all stakeholders, including customers, tenants, and staff. They recently received the best grades— “Outstanding” in building management and “Excellent in asset performance—for their BREEAM-in-Use certificates.
They are friendly with the local communities. For this reason, in addition to just fun events, they also organise educational, cultural, and cutting-edge technology events. However, they also desire the prosperity of local communities, which is why they support local artists, craftspeople, producers, and organisations. People ought to take pride in their homes.
The main tenets of the nation’s “Be Kind” programme, which was started just before the pandemics, are to promote compassion, respect, and empathy. Being kind to one another was especially vital during pandemics because it was so difficult. The team will continue this effort and offer a venue in M1 retail malls for people to get involved and aid those in need, whether they are gifted youngsters, regional artists, lonely mothers, or anybody else. Renata and her team wish to raise awareness among the public, inspire participation, and inspire a better future. A nicer world results from kinder people.
Achievements
Within her own family, Renata values her children as her greatest accomplishment. They are two admirable and motivating people. She enjoys listening to their opinions and views about the world today and in the future. New innovations in technology and fashion also captivate them. In general, she believes that older generations have a lot to learn from younger ones.
Professionally, Renata is most proud of the team of experts she collaborates with on a regular basis. With this team, she has accomplished the seemingly impossible numerous times with great success. A recent check confirmed their engagement level rate of 93 percent. They often say that “We do not limit our challenges. We challenge our limits“. As a result, the team enjoys excellent outcomes, including a 99.1 occupancy ratio, enduring connections with business partners, and a stellar reputation. She was thrilled to win the title of “Top Woman in Real Estate” this year, which made her feel especially proud. She had the impression that her 25 years of effort had been greatly valued.
Advice to enthusiasts
It is always preferable to inspire others to change rather than to inspire yourself to change. Renata advises innovating and maintaining an open mind. Additionally, she suggested that emerging leaders take advice from others and strive for the success of their clients and businesses. She wants leaders to make thoughtful decisions and stick to their own course because doing so makes one passionate and joyful. She plans to bring new services, new technologies, and new leasing formats to the commercial real estate industry.
Website: www.metro-properties.pl
