Key takeaways
Lessons from Shindico and the Winnipeg market
- Think like an owner. Shindico has ownership in most of what it manages, and it expects staff to treat every property that way.
- Let management inform development. Lessons from managing buildings help Shindico avoid design problems before new projects are built.
- Automate the mundane. Online applications, automatic lease generation, and cloud systems free staff to visit sites and build tenant relationships.
- Be fair to contractors through every cycle. Vendors who were treated well when work was scarce remember it when they get busy.
- Try and care. Alex says those two qualities matter most in any employee, along with putting in the extra hours early in your career.
About the guest
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Alex Akman
Chief Operating Officer, Shindico
Alex is COO of Shindico, a Winnipeg real estate company that manages about 180 properties, mostly retail and multifamily, and develops and builds its own projects. He represents the fourth generation of the family behind Akman Management, which merged into Shindico in 2023. He joined Shindico in 2015 as a property administrator and holds a commerce degree from the University of Toronto and a CPA designation.
Episode summary
In this episode
Alex Akman grew up around his family’s construction and management business, studied commerce at the University of Toronto, and earned his CPA before joining Shindico as a property administrator in 2015. He is now COO, and his family’s Akman Management merged into Shindico in 2023.
He explains why Akman stepped away from condo management, how Shindico’s portfolio of retail, multifamily, and industrial properties is growing, and what a typical day looks like. He also shares lessons from Shindico’s founders, how Shindico treats tenants and contractors, and why Winnipeg’s steady market suits long-term owners.
Alex covers how Shindico uses technology and automation, the need for property management programs at universities, his advice for aspiring property managers, how Shindico handles janitorial work, and the course he recommends to every property manager.
Chapters
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:48About Shindico and Akman Management
- 4:05Alex’s career path
- 9:15How his education applies today
- 10:23Merging Akman Management into Shindico
- 13:22Why Akman left condo management
- 15:29Shindico’s portfolio
- 17:41A day as COO
- 19:42Working with tenants and vendors
- 23:03Lessons from Shindico’s founders
- 24:44Winnipeg’s multifamily market
- 28:01Technology and automation
- 32:15BOMA Manitoba and the talent gap
- 35:48Shindico’s future
- 38:11Advice for aspiring property managers
- 39:37Janitorial at Shindico
- 42:03Dream property
- 43:23Recommended learning
Jump to a chapter (18)
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:48About Shindico and Akman Management
- 4:05Alex’s career path
- 9:15How his education applies today
- 10:23Merging Akman Management into Shindico
- 13:22Why Akman left condo management
- 15:29Shindico’s portfolio
- 17:41A day as COO
- 19:42Working with tenants and vendors
- 23:03Lessons from Shindico’s founders
- 24:44Winnipeg’s multifamily market
- 28:01Technology and automation
- 32:15BOMA Manitoba and the talent gap
- 35:48Shindico’s future
- 38:11Advice for aspiring property managers
- 39:37Janitorial at Shindico
- 42:03Dream property
- 43:23Recommended learning
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
It’s very important that a lot of our staff think like owners and that’s something that we think sets us apart from some of the competition…
Alex AkmanPlay from 2:28
…automate business processes so that our staff can spend more time building those relationships, spending time on site, learning what our tenants need…
Alex AkmanPlay from 1:01
The two things that I think are most important in an employee: you try and you care.
Alex AkmanPlay from 7:57
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Read the conversation
Full episode transcript
Show transcript
Paste the edited transcript here.
FAQ
Questions about this episode
How does Shindico handle janitorial services?
At most properties, Shindico employs its own caretakers. Where it holds a janitorial contract, such as buildings leased to the federal government, it often defers to the tenant’s preferred cleaner, since happy tenants matter most. Cost is important but not always the deciding factor, and security clearances can be required.
Why is Winnipeg attractive to real estate owners?
Alex says Winnipeg has less volatility than markets like Calgary or Toronto, limited institutional investment so far, and a population nearing one million, which he expects to drive more demand for existing assets.
What does Alex recommend for property managers who want to grow?
Taking CCIM courses. They show property managers how tenants, agents, and owners think about location, costs, and value, which helps with renewals and acquisitions.
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