Episode 3 | Murray Clark | The Man Who Reimagined How Cities Are Lived In

Episode 3 | Murray Clark | The Man Who Reimagined How Cities Are Lived In

In this episode of The Corner Office, John Jack | CEO of Galetti Corporate Real estate, dives deep into the journey of Murray Clark | Co-Founder & CEO of Neighbourgood, a community-led living and workspace platform operating across San Francisco, New Haven, and Cape Town. Today, Neighbourgood operates 1,300+ residential units and shared workspaces across three cities, with hotel-style amenities, curated community programming, and a membership model that activates buildings beyond their four walls. But how did he get here? His father was a builder, a good one, who spent his career working hard and struggling harder. When Murray dropped out of law school after a year, nobody would have predicted he'd spend the next two decades quietly reshaping how South Africans, and now Americans, think about the places they live and work. This episode of The Corner Office traces the full arc. From sitting outside a newspaper depot at 10pm on Saturday nights to get first access to the property classifieds, to buying a piece of land for R70,000 in Durban that turned out to have zoning for 20 units.From running an under-18 nightclub that got shut down by Durban North mums, to accidentally executing his first arbitrage deal at 17 when Curves Gym replaced the nightclub at triple the rent. From building 45 convenience shopping centres across rural South Africa, to losing R4 million on a Woodstock food hall and using that failure as the blueprint for what Neighbourgood has become. Today, Neighbourgood operates across Cape Town, Johannesburg, San Francisco, and New Haven, managing roughly 75 buildings and redefining what it means to rent in a city. The model is simple in concept and complex in execution: instead of paying for four walls and a key, Neighbourgood members get access to co-working spaces, health and wellness facilities, community events, brand partnerships, and a city-wide network of buildings, all for the same price as a standard apartment. Murray talks openly about what went wrong at Neighbourgood in Woodstock, why he walked away from a profitable shopping centre business after reading Jim Collins, how his father's death at 22 forced him to grow up overnight, and why he believes the future of living is a branded, city-wide experience that has nothing to do with hotels. He also gets into the numbers, cap rates in San Francisco, the opco-propco model, why Johannesburg is harder to crack than Cape Town, and why a strong local property partner is the single most important decision when entering a new city. This is a conversation about property, entrepreneurship, failure, reinvention, and what it looks like to build something you actually want to leave behind.

How WeThinkCode Is Tackling Unemployment in South Africa

South Africa has a 33% unemployment rate. WeThinkCode is doing something about it. In this episode of the Galetti Corner Office, we sit down with the leadership team behind one of South Africa's most important youth development organisations. WeThinkCode recruits unemployed young South Africans based on aptitude, trains them as software developers over 16 months, and places them directly into employment at an 81% success rate.No degree required. No tuition fees. Over 1,800 graduates placed since 2016. 85% of internships convert to permanent roles. 60% of students come from households earning less than R75,000 per year. This is a blueprint for fixing unemployment in South Africa through skills development, digital education, and a smarter approach to hiring. If you are a business owner, hiring manager, or young South African looking to break into the tech industry, this conversation is essential watching. #SouthAfricaUnemployment #WeThinkCode #YouthEmployment #SoftwareDevelopment #DigitalSkills #SouthAfricaTech #CodingCareer #JobsInTech #SkillsDevelopment #SAtech #FutureOfWork #UnemploymentSolution #TechEducation #CodeForChange

S3E10: Season Finale | 30 Minutes with Helen Zille

JOBURG. R200 BILLION. 5 YEARS. Johannesburg is on the edge of a comeback - and people are paying attention. In this final episode of season 3 of The Corner Office, we sit down with Helen Zille to unpack what could be the most exciting economic turnaround story in South Africa. Johannesburg breaks, it rebuilds, it breaks again, and then somehow - with the stubbornness only Joburgers truly understand - it finds a way to move forward. Investors who know the city deeply don’t bet on its perfection; they bet on its potential. And if there is one theme that emerged from our final episode of The Corner Office with Helen Zille’s, it’s that Johannesburg’s potential is nowhere near exhausted. South African businesses are sitting on roughly R2 trillion in dormant capital. For all the complexity around city governance, infrastructure, and budgets, the real expectations of Joburgers are remarkably consistent across communities, income levels and business sectors. They want: - Water they can trust. - Electricity they can rely on. - Roads they can drive on. - Public spaces that feel safe. - A city where business doesn’t come with operational volatility. Whether the commentary comes from industry leaders, political figures, neighbourhood forums, or the business sector, the message is the same: a working Johannesburg unlocks everything else. This conversation digs into the questions that matter to every investor and commercial property owner: * ⁠ ⁠What would a well-run Johannesburg unlock for growth and asset value? * ⁠ ⁠How do reliable services, strong systems and smart partnerships create investor confidence? * ⁠ ⁠Where are the quick wins that can shift sentiment fast? * ⁠ ⁠Why Joburg’s unique “social capital” is one of its greatest competitive advantages. At Galetti, we ask these questions daily because they shape the future of the city we invest in, work in, and believe in. This is about possibility, momentum, and the massive upside in rebuilding Africa’s most important commercial hub. The opportunity is real. The energy is rising. And the city is ready. ‼️Disclaimer: Galetti Corporate Real Estate is an independent organisation and does not endorse or align with any political party or candidate. Our focus is solely on issues that impact Johannesburg’s commercial landscape and the broader business community.

Reinier van Loggerenberg on the Real Cost of Corporate Occupation

In this episode, we sit down with Reinier van Loggerenberg, CEO of Craft Homes, to unpack one of the most unexpected trends post-COVID - the resurgence of tenants into traditional office and industrial spaces. From scaling a multi-million-rand industrial portfolio to disrupting the status quo in Bryanston with a bold red wall that went viral, Reinier shares unfiltered insights on where the market is heading, what landlords are getting wrong, and how to build resilience into your commercial strategy. We explore:🏭 Why industrial remains the golden child of CRE and what threats are quietly emerging🧠 The mental side of property investing and why EQ matters more than ever🏢 How office demand is being driven by something everyone thought was dead📉 The biggest lessons from mistakes made (and how to avoid them in a volatile market)If you’re in commercial leasing, property investment or corporate real estate strategy this is a must-watch.🎯 Watch to learn:Why tenants are returning to traditional space and what this means for office leasingThe metrics that really matter in industrial property todayHow to build a CRE portfolio that survives market shocksReinier’s journey scaling Craft Homes into a major player in SA’s real estate marketFollow us on socials and stay tuned for the next episode!

S3EP7 | Bryce O’Donnell on Revitalising SA’s Property Market

You can’t get complacent in property - one deal doesn’t make you untouchable, and one bad move can undo years of progress.In this episode, we sit down with Bryce O’Donnell, Managing Director of Abcon Development, the team behind major projects like Santon Gate, S&J Industrial Park, and Hertford Office Park. Bryce shares his journey, his approach to development and why understanding what the consumer really wants is the key to thriving in a tough market.We explore:🏗️ How Abcon is building what municipalities can’t deliver - fixing infrastructure, developing industrial precincts, and driving economic growth.💡 Why location fundamentals matter - and how to spot underperforming assets with big potential.🍽️ How modern developments blend retail, lifestyle, and convenience to meet evolving consumer needs.📈 The mindset shift needed to go from building projects to building lasting value.If you’re in commercial real estate, property development, or investment, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.🎯 Watch to learn:How to identify undervalued assets in good locationsThe link between infrastructure upgrades and property valueStrategies for responding to market demand in retail and industrialBryce’s leadership journey in one of South Africa’s top development companiesFollow us on socials and stay tuned for the next episode!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalettiCRE/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galetti_sa/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18866828/admin/dashboard/