Name: Jim Groves
Job title: CEO and co-founder, Rubberdesk
What I do: I build a team and give them direction.
Why I got into the property industry: I’ve a background in trading technology in equity markets where I saw the power technology had to reduce friction in what were traditionally high-touch brokered markets. After looking for other markets where technology could have a similar impact my sights set on the property market. I was struck by the lack of transparency and fragmentation in real estate and knew that those qualities lead to poorer outcomes for tenants, and so began my journey in property to create efficiencies when searching for office space.
How I did it: The property market is diverse, so I focused on one sector: the growing flex or coworking sector. My goal was to have a narrow, inch-wide but mile deep understanding of the sector and bring transparency to what was a fragmented market. To do that, we needed to aggregate data from lots of different sources and present them to customers in a digestible way – for which we built an intuitive platform. Everything we’ve done since has been about making it easier for businesses to find an office.
My first proper job: Out of university I got onto the graduate programme for CapGemini through which I was seconded to work in JP Morgan’s bond and gilts settlements department, maintaining an ageing code base. We were based deep underground above the bank’s enormous vault in London, where the bearer bonds were stored. What was striking, though perhaps not surprising, was the high level of physical and IT security in place around the vault.
My inspiration(s): I’ve tended to find inspiration among the people I work with rather than famous individuals.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Creating a business from scratch has given me more sleepless nights than the dotcom bubble and the GFC. But getting through Covid was the biggest challenge of all.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Leaving the safety-net of a 20-year career at an investment bank to start something new.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: That the big players have the industry locked up. There’s room for agile businesses to carve a niche.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: It baffles me that landlords pay money to the likes of rightmove to advertise their agent’s brand instead of their own. And that the leads those adverts generate, go to the agent and not the landlord.
Why I’m so passionate about ESG: From the environmental perspective there’s a huge amount of wastage and landfill when commercial lease fit-outs are made good.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Transforming the real estate industry though innovative software and tools.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: David Bowie.
What I do in my downtime: Spend time with the dog, my family and friends. In that order.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: I’ve a couple more ideas I’d like to work on. Hopefully they’ll get some air in the next few years.
My advice for someone just starting out: Be proactive and reach out to people in the industry. Try and grab a coffee and network your way into the role or company you want. It’s an industry full of big personalities and you need to stand out.
My motto/mantra: The only “normal” people are the ones you don’t know very well.
