S03E03 People Before Profit: Lessons from Real Estate, with lisa wise

Rethink Culture

"It feels good to do good with your business. I think we underestimate ourselves as businesspeople and the impact that we can have on people in the world. And we look at politicians and policy, and we look at the slow going, and the barriers to things changing. If we want a more just and equitable future, where all of us can thrive and seek opportunity, business can play an important role in doing that... It starts with caring for your people and giving them good jobs. Not jobs where you're depending on them to have less so you can have more. And frankly, the feeling that you get from that is one that I have enjoyed from the moment we opened our doors as Nest DC."

S03E03 of the Rethink Culture podcast shines the spotlight on lisa wise, the visionary founder of Nest DC and the birdseed Foundation. Nest DC is a socially conscious property management company dedicated to ethical practices and sustainable housing solutions that foster community-building and equity in real estate. The birdSEED Foundation is lisa’s philanthropic initiative that provides no-strings-attached down payment assistance to disadvantaged minority homebuyers, addressing racial discrimination and empowering communities to build generational wealth through homeownership.

Learn how lisa's innovative real estate management company oversees $2 billion in properties while her nonprofit empowers minority homeowners with essential downpayment grants. Join us for an inspiring episode packed with insights on workplace justice, activism, entrepreneurship, and lisa’s powerful impact on both business and community.

The podcast is produced by Rethink Culture (rethinkculture.co). Our Culture Health Check helps you turn your culture into a competitive advantage, with data.

Production, video, and audio editing by Evangelia Alexaki of Musicove Productions.

Listen to this episode to discover:
• What makes Nest DC a game-changer in property management.
• How Nest DC creates great jobs with competitive pay and growth opportunities.
• The importance of a justice mindset that places people before profit.
• Lisa's approach to servant leadership.
• How lisa tackles profitability challenges.
• How lisa views employee ownership vs. responsibility
• Lisa’s habits for maintaining mental and physical well-being.
• The intentionality of public praise and private feedback.
• How lisa's housing insecurity and privilege shaped her mission with birdSEED.
• Lisa's vision for scaling birdSEED to help thousands more.

Further resources:
• lisa wise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawise/
• birdSEED: https://www.birdseed.org/
• Nest DC: https://www.nest-dc.com/
• Self-Elected: How to Put Justice Over Profit and Soar in Business, by lisa wise: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Elected-Justice-Over-Profit-Business-ebook/dp/B0B9T2H5QH
• Radical Candor, by Kim Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Revised-Kick-Ass-Humanity-ebook/dp/B07P9LPXPT/