Starting at the bottom and working his way to Vice President, Brian Brown has spent the majority of his career with Lifetime Developments. Notable projects include the Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences Toronto, Bisha Hotel & Residences, The Bond Condominiums, and the in-demand Karma Condos. By successfully identifying the neighbourhoods poised to become thriving communities, they are able to remain at the forefront of the city’s ever-burgeoning real estate industry, a great deal of which is thanks to Brian in this YPDaily…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I’m a real estate developer. As Vice President of Lifetime Developments and Principal of BLVD Developments, I’m involved in every part of the business from site acquisition to completion.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
About eight years ago, Toronto’s real estate industry was in the beginning stages of an amazing growth cycle and I was fortunate to have an opportunity to join Lifetime Developments during that time. Lifetime, a company with over 20 years’ experience prior to when I joined, was in the process of transitioning from a low-rise developer to a high-rise developer with a focus on Toronto’s downtown core. I started at the bottom and worked my way up to the position I hold today. We were fortunate to create some amazing projects and I have had great mentors who have taught me so much in a short period of time.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
I love the young entrepreneurial spirit of our organization. It’s refreshing. Everyday is different and there’s no such thing as “it’s not my department”.
The most challenging part is that it’s a very competitive and complex industry with a high degree of risk and reward. With each development, there can be a variety of unexpected factors that can fundamentally affect the success of a project.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Doing exactly what I’m doing today. I love it that much.
What does success look like to you?
For me, success is seeing a condominium project come to fruition and being able to walk through it once everything is completed. A project is typically a four to five year process so it’s something you live and breathe for many years. Ultimately, I’m looking forward to walking around the downtown core with my kids and being able to point out the buildings that we have built over the years.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
I know it sounds corny, but hearing my parents talk about me and my career successes to their friends. That was a significant moment for me.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Take advantage of every door that opens for you. It’s presenting itself to you as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
My wife and I support a number of charities including Colon Cancer Canada, Venture Sinai, Camp Oochigeas, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada, Prostate Cancer Canada and the Canadian Real Estate Industry Hold’em for Life, to name a few.
This year marked my wife’s first 60km walk for The Princess Margaret Weekend to End Women’s Cancer, which was an amazing accomplishment and an inspiring moment. In the last year alone, cancer has touched many of my close family and friends and so it has encouraged us to do as much as we can for the cause.
What to you is notable?
I’ve been very fortunate to have a number of people who have significantly influenced and taught me a great deal throughout my life. To me, they are Notable.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
I’ve used Blackberry for years but I’m now ready to make my switch to the iPhone.